https://arab.news/2rdhz
Many Western commentators, unable to resist a complicated explanation for a simple problem, have offered a whole menu of theories for the recent Saudi-Emirati tensions. Some make for a neat story. Most miss the point.
The strain between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi is simply rooted in national security. Specifically, it stems from the UAE’s conduct in Yemen and Sudan, which Saudi officials increasingly view as destabilizing and directly threatening the Kingdom. Online sniping and narrative warfare may raise the temperature, but they are symptoms. The cause is the strategic impact of policies in two conflict zones where Saudi Arabia bears the greatest exposure.
That is why the many framings of this rift get it wrong. Riyadh’s concern is not where a consulting firm places its regional office, nor is it a desire to “downsize” the UAE in regional politics. The issue is whether a close partner is widening security risks on Saudi Arabia’s periphery while still benefiting from the optics of Gulf unity.
Riyadh has prioritized Yemeni stability
