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.