Saudi Al-Jazira Newspaper Warns Wealthy Gulf States Against Power Delusions

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Al-Jazira newspaper published a prominent editorial by its editor-in-chief, Khaled bin Hamad Al-Malik, directing sharp criticism toward affluent governments in the Persian Gulf region that have allegedly fallen victim to delusions of grandeur. Political observers interpret this stance as an indirect message directed at Manama, Abu Dhabi, and other regional Arab states.

Writing under the headline “Recalculate Your Equations,” Al-Malik claimed that the Kingdom of Bahrain was previously on the brink of collapse due to internal opposition groups, asserting that only military intervention by Riyadh prevented the regime’s downfall. Recalling the Saudi military intervention in Bahrain during the 2011 unrest, he emphasized that Riyadh rescued the Bahraini monarchy and preserved its political system.

The Saudi media figure further warned that windfall wealth can induce leaders of certain states to suffer from illusions of power, leading them to believe they no longer need larger allies. He argued that such nations inevitably find themselves dependent on powerful supporters when crises erupt. Al-Malik also characterized his country’s military actions in Yemen as a fundamental effort to protect Yemen from fragmentation and noted Riyadh’s diplomatic steps to end the conflict in Sudan.

Although the author did not explicitly mention Abu Dhabi by name, analysts viewed the remarks as targeted taunts against the United Arab Emirates—a nation that has previously faced criticism from him over policies conflicting with Riyadh’s security and regional stability. On January 26, Al-Malik accused the UAE of expansionism and intervention in Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia, arguing that financial wealth cannot compensate for a lack of military capability and that Abu Dhabi’s regional approach has undermined Saudi security. Furthermore, in a February 19 article titled “Keys to Resolving Saudi-Emirati Differences,” he attributed the majority of the discord between the two governments to Abu Dhabi’s policies in southern Yemen and its support for the Southern Transitional Council.