Saudi Arabia and UAE Urged to Reconcile Over Yemen to Counter Houthi Advance
Saudi Arabia is facing mounting pressure to reconcile with the United Arab Emirates over Yemen as the required price for forming a military alliance capable of driving back Houthi forces. Relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi deteriorated sharply in January following a Saudi military operation against the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist force previously backed by the UAE, which prompted the Emirates to effectively withdraw from Yemen.
Geopolitical Shift Following Houthi Advance to Bab al-Mandab
The geopolitical situation shifted dramatically in mid-September when Iran-aligned Houthi forces captured the narrow Bab al-Mandab strait from pro-government fighters. The push south defeated the UAE-backed National Resistance Forces led by Tareq Saleh, causing their frontlines to collapse rapidly. This chokepoint is vital for Saudi oil exports, raising the strategic stakes for Riyadh.
A meeting addressing the future role of the UAE in Yemen took place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, and representatives from other Arab states, including Saudi Arabia. Reports indicate Netanyahu offered to help Saudi Arabia defeat the Houthis—an offer Riyadh likely finds difficult to accept, particularly after Donald Trump failed to answer Saudi calls for US help in Yemen.
Further talks occurred on Tuesday in Riyadh between Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman al Saud and UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, signaling potential paths toward reconciliation on energy and regional policy.
Intensified Fighting Around Taiz and the Strategic Role of Southern Forces
Houthi forces are currently attempting to consolidate their gains and capture the southwestern city of Taiz. Baraa Shiban, a Gulf and Yemen specialist at the defence think tank Rusi, noted the intensity of the conflict after spending a week in the city. “The Houthi forces are mounting simultaneous waves of attacks on the city trying to exhaust the Taiz Axis force defending the city,” Shiban said. “The Houthis are pushed back, but then the next day they come again on a different front.”
While international efforts aim to bridge the rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi through confidence-building measures, obstacles remain. According to Baraa Shiban, “The UAE has left Yemen, and it is unlikely that Riyadh would let them back in since they are aligned with the STC, and that would spell trouble… the UAE and Saudi Arabia are fundamentally on opposite sides.”
Despite the exile of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi following the Saudi attack, former Yemen foreign minister and STC supporter Khaled Alyemany told the Guardian that Riyadh may need to reconsider its political stance toward southern groups. The Giant Brigades, UAE-trained southern forces formerly associated with the STC, provide some of the most reliable and well-equipped ground troops capable of stemming the Houthi advance.
However, the STC has urged the Giant Brigades to resist merging with official Yemeni government forces. “We cannot fight and wage wars in the north against the Houthis if we do not have a horizon for our independence,” Alyemany stated. He added that the UN-recognised government, operating from exile in Riyadh, demands that southerners recapture Sana’a without offering any guarantees of self-determination.
International Pressure and Security Dilemmas for Riyadh
The White House has privately urged both the UAE and Saudi Arabia to resolve their differences and permit a unified military command—including the Southern Giants Brigades—to confront the Houthi offensive. Additional proposals involve utilizing Israeli intelligence and hiring Israeli private security firms, a tactic the UAE has previously employed in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia remains reluctant to visibly cooperate with Israel and has historically opposed southern separatism, fearing that the division of Yemen could entrench Houthi control in the north along its border. Meanwhile, Houthi drones and missiles continue to target Saudi energy installations.
The fighting has taken a severe human toll. The World Health Organization reported that between August 6 of last year and September 26 of this year, the recent escalation resulted in 838 deaths and 3,643 injuries. In response to the ongoing threat, the parliament of the UN-recognised government has sanctioned a general mobilization of the Yemeni population.
April Longley Alley, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute, told an International Crisis Group seminar that the conflict is existential for Saudi Arabia, noting that the Houthis are unlikely to compromise. “We will have to see if they hold these territories, but what the Houthis learned from the Iran war is that Saudi under pressure and attack will seek de-escalation,” Alley said. “The Houthis are demanding a victor’s peace.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the Yemen Conflict and Regional Talks
Why did relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE strain over Yemen?
Relations plummeted in January when Saudi Arabia attacked and defeated the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist force backed by the UAE, in an effort to suppress attempts to recreate a separate southern state. This led the UAE to effectively withdraw from Yemen.
What is the strategic significance of the Bab al-Mandab strait?
The Bab al-Mandab strait is a critical chokepoint for Saudi oil exports. The mid-September capture of the strait by Iran-aligned Houthi forces transformed regional geopolitics and threatened vital supply lines.
What role do the Giant Brigades play in the current fighting?
The Giant Brigades are UAE-trained southern forces that provide some of the most reliable and well-equipped troops on the ground to counter the Houthi advance, though debates persist over their integration with the UN-recognised government.
How have international actors reacted to the escalation?
The White House has privately urged Saudi Arabia and the UAE to bridge their differences and establish a unified military command against the Houthis. Regional leaders—including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—have held discussions in Abu Dhabi regarding potential security cooperation.