Saudi Arabia says ties with UAE 'vital' for regional stability
Saudi Arabia on Monday described its relationship with the United Arab Emirates as 'vital' to regional stability, seeking to ease tensions after a recent rift between the two Gulf allies over developments in Yemen.
Speaking at a joint news conference in Warsaw with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said maintaining strong relations with Abu Dhabi was essential for the unity and effectiveness of the Gulf Cooperation Council. His remarks came after disagreements emerged following the UAE’s decision to fully withdraw its forces from Yemen.
“The UAE has decided to withdraw from Yemen completely, and I believe this is essential for the continuation of strong relations with the UAE,” Prince Faisal said, adding that close coordination between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remains a cornerstone of regional security. His comments were carried by Al-Arabiya television.
The UAE has not publicly responded to the Saudi minister’s statements. Tensions flared last month after Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council, a powerful separatist group, seized control of the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra near the Saudi border. Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of backing the STC’s military moves, a claim the UAE firmly denied.
Yemeni government forces, supported by the Saudi-led coalition, later regained control of the two provinces, helping defuse the immediate crisis. The episode, however, exposed one of the most serious fractures in the anti-Houthi alliance in recent years, highlighting the challenges facing efforts to stabilise Yemen and preserve unity among Gulf partners.
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