UAE Activists Express Satisfaction Over Saudi Arabia’s Yemen Setbacks Amidst Diplomatic Stalemate
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, recent reports sourced from Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar indicate a persistent rift between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia concerning their strategies in Yemen. The data, published by Mehr News Agency, suggests that even following the visit of UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed to Saudi Arabia, no concrete agreement has emerged to resolve their differing approaches to the Yemeni conflict.
The UAE has reportedly conditioned its engagement in the war on regaining administrative control over southern Yemen and securing its interests, a demand that Saudi Arabia is resisting. Riyadh is said to be pushing for its preferred proxies and has accused the Southern Transitional Council (STC) of betrayal, further complicating negotiations.
Sources suggest that Riyadh is unwilling to cede control of the southern provinces, which it considers its sphere of influence and a key element of its political and military leverage in the region. Saudi Arabia views any concessions to Emirati influence in the south as a potential weakening of its remaining bargaining chips in the broader Yemeni equation.
Despite Saudi Arabia’s challenging situation in Yemen and its need to utilize all available assets, the Saudi-aligned government in Aden continues to accuse Aidarus al-Zubaidi, the head of the STC, of major treachery. Some activists and figures close to Riyadh have gone further, accusing Abu Dhabi of colluding with the Sana’a government and coordinating on the ground with commanders affiliated with the STC.
Conversely, the UAE appears to be in no position to engage directly in further combat alongside Saudi Arabia. This reluctance is amplified by the cautious stance of major international and regional powers, who are wary of the security and strategic risks associated with expanded military involvement.
Furthermore, the UAE is reportedly still grappling with the repercussions of the Israel-US conflict against Iran, making a costly new confrontation unappealing. Political observers believe that the UAE would only consider direct military intervention in Yemen if the United States were to lead a comprehensive plan that guarantees Abu Dhabi’s share of any perceived gains. This scenario mirrors the events of 2021, when the UAE redeployed forces to Yemen at Washington’s request to attack Marib, despite having officially announced its withdrawal in 2019.
Current media discourse from the UAE and pro-Abu Dhabi southern platforms indicates that the Emirates have not forgiven Saudi Arabia for what they perceive as a “severe insult” following their expulsion from southern Yemeni provinces late last year. Activists and politicians from southern Yemen have openly expressed satisfaction with Riyadh’s military operational failures and its inability to protect vital infrastructure.
