Saudi Arabia has carried out airstrikes on a port in Yemen, citing intelligence that the facility was being used to receive a weapons shipment, in a move that has sharply escalated tensions with the United Arab Emirates.

The strike, which targeted infrastructure at the port, was accompanied by a warning from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi as relations between the two Gulf powers deteriorate over their competing roles in Yemen.

Saudi officials said the operation was intended to prevent the transfer of arms that could further destabilise the conflict and threaten regional security.

According to Saudi statements, the port had become a critical entry point for weapons allegedly linked to networks operating with external backing.

The Kingdom framed the strike as a defensive measure aligned with its broader objective of curbing the flow of arms to armed groups in Yemen.

The United Arab Emirates has rejected allegations that it was involved in supplying weapons through the port, describing the claims as unfounded and politically motivated.

Emirati officials reiterated that Abu Dhabi has been reducing its military footprint in Yemen and shifting toward diplomatic and humanitarian engagement, while maintaining partnerships with local forces for security purposes.

The incident highlights the widening rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, former allies in the Yemen conflict whose strategies have increasingly diverged.

While Riyadh remains focused on border security and backing the internationally recognised Yemeni government, Abu Dhabi has prioritised influence in southern regions and along strategic maritime routes.

Analysts say these competing agendas have fuelled mistrust and raised the risk of direct confrontation.

Regional mediators are now working to contain the fallout, as the strike underscores how Yemen has become a focal point for broader Gulf rivalries.

With peace efforts already fragile, the latest escalation adds uncertainty to prospects for de-escalation and a negotiated settlement, even as all parties publicly insist they seek stability and an end to the conflict.