The relations between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have entered an unprecedented phase of media confrontation, with Saudi outlets leveling explicit accusations against the UAE of “betrayal” and “incitement”—a tone unseen in the Gulf since the 2017 crisis with Qatar.
The escalation is rooted in widening disagreements over Yemen, where Riyadh and Abu Dhabi back rival forces. Tensions intensified after Saudi Arabia moved to support the government in Aden against groups backed by the UAE.
Media War and Deepening Rift
In recent weeks, the rift has widened further as Saudi media and social platforms intensified attacks on the UAE, accusing it of human rights violations, “investing in chaos,” and supporting separatist movements from Libya to Yemen and the Horn of Africa, according to a report by the state-owned Al-Ikhbariya channel.
Security analyst Anna Jacobs, speaking to AFP, said the dispute between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi has become unusually visible, with Saudi Arabia openly highlighting its divergence from Emirati regional policies and showing no signs of retreat. By contrast, the UAE has largely maintained public silence.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are long-standing allies with closely intertwined economies. Bilateral trade reached approximately $36 billion in 2024, making Saudi Arabia the UAE’s largest Arab trading partner and its third-largest globally.
Accusations and Strategic Divergence
Saudi commentators have accused the UAE of backing forces at odds with Saudi interests in conflicts such as Yemen and Sudan, while also pointing to Abu Dhabi’s growing ties with Israel, following normalization in 2020. Saudi political analyst Suleiman Al-Aqili said there is a prevailing sentiment in Riyadh that the UAE has “betrayed the strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and fueled crises in Saudi Arabia’s strategic depth.”
Saudi writer Munif Al-Harbi went further, describing Emirati policy as “an Israeli project cloaked in Abu Dhabi’s mantle.” In response, the UAE has stated that facilities targeted in Yemen were military sites, adding that its restrained public response reflects a desire to avoid provoking Saudi Arabia.
Economic and Regional Fallout
The escalation has begun to spill over into the public and commercial spheres. Saudi campaigns have emerged calling for a boycott of tourism to the UAE, while a Saudi perfume brand announced it would rebrand its products to avoid referencing the UAE.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi has moved to strengthen its political and security alliances. This week, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where the two agreed to establish a strategic defense partnership—months after Saudi Arabia signed a defense agreement with Pakistan.
Analysts say the sharp media escalation, while confrontational, may carry dual signals: a warning of the capacity to escalate further, alongside an implicit opening for de-escalation. The episode underscores the fragility of the political and security balance in the Gulf and the wider region.
Source: Al-Manar Website