RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, September 30, 2026 – Even as diplomatic relations between the two heavyweight Arab states of the Gulf begin mending, it is not due to a new trade accord or some sort of ceremonial handshake. Instead, the driving force behind the diplomacy is the evolving military operations in Yemen.
On September 29, 2026, Vice-President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived in Riyadh and met Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and Prince Khalid bin Salman, Minister of Defence. According to the news agency of Saudi Arabia, the dialogue led by Sheikh Mansour dealt with issues of bilateral relations and geopolitical developments in the region. Moreover, the visit became the first non-official high-ranking trip of the UAE to Saudi Arabia since the disagreements between the partners started worsening earlier in that year.
The current situation is noteworthy. Yemen has now moved into another dangerous stage, where the Houthis are continuing their attacks on Saudi Arabia and expanding their influence along the coasts of the Red Sea and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, which is a key maritime link between the Red Sea and Aden Gulf. The Trader’s Union has reported that the emergence of a renewed threat has encouraged the two countries to reach understandings after months of problems in their coordination.
The deterioration of their relations started in January 2026 when pro-Saudi forces launched their intervention against the Southern Transitional Council, which is allied with the UAE. Saudi Arabia blamed the UAE for its support of the advancement of the separatists near Saudi Arabia’s border, while Riyadh attacked a shipment that it claimed was intended to support the UAE’s activities. Later, the UAE withdrew its troops from Yemen.
The fallout has extended beyond Yemen. The Traders Union has flagged the apprehension voiced by certain companies regarding the transfer of funds from Saudi Arabia to the UAE. The withdrawal of Abu Dhabi from OPEC in April 2026 and the region-wide maritime task force, announced by Saudi Arabia in August 2026, are considered by experts as further symptoms of discord.
However, the importance of the economic factors creates a very real need to coordinate. As mentioned by The Financial Times, in September 2026 the oil-revenue-generating countries of the Arabian Peninsula exported an average of 15.5 million barrels a day, which means that the output was already over 80% of the pre-war level, although the risks in the sphere of security continue to hamper operations in the oil sector and maritime transport.
It follows that Yemen is not merely a local conflict for Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. It is a pole of regional security, maritime trade, oil supply, and Gulf countries’ diplomacy. The meeting of September 29 doesn’t solve the problem, but it restores Saudi-UAE cooperation in an increasingly unstable situation in the Middle East.
