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Saudi Arabia Voices Concerns to UAE Over Sudan Conflict and Yemen Strategy
Report indicates Riyadh has raised diplomatic reservations with Abu Dhabi regarding regional approaches to Sudan’s war and policy direction in Yemen
Saudi Arabia has raised concerns with the United Arab Emirates regarding regional policy differences over the war in Sudan and the trajectory of efforts in Yemen, according to a recent report that highlights emerging tensions within the Gulf over two of the Middle East’s most volatile crises.
The discussions reportedly centre on differing assessments of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and has since triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
Saudi Arabia has played a prominent diplomatic role in facilitating ceasefire talks and humanitarian corridors, hosting negotiations and coordinating with international partners to seek a political resolution.
Officials are said to have expressed concern that diverging external approaches risk prolonging instability and undermining mediation efforts.
In Yemen, where a fragile truce has significantly reduced large-scale hostilities since 2022, Saudi Arabia has pursued a sustained diplomatic track aimed at consolidating de-escalation and advancing a political settlement.
Riyadh has engaged directly with Yemeni factions and regional actors, framing its policy around long-term stability, reconstruction and economic recovery.
The report suggests Saudi officials have sought clarity from the UAE regarding its strategic posture and influence within southern Yemen, reflecting sensitivities over the endgame of the conflict.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain close strategic partners with deep economic and security ties.
However, analysts note that as regional diplomacy intensifies and geopolitical alignments shift, tactical differences over conflict management can surface even among longstanding allies.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly positioned itself as a central diplomatic actor in regional crises, leveraging its economic weight and political influence to promote negotiated solutions.
Its efforts in Sudan and Yemen form part of a broader foreign policy recalibration focused on de-escalation, regional dialogue and stability.
While no official breakdown in relations has been signalled, the reported exchanges underscore the complexity of managing parallel crises across the Red Sea corridor and the Arabian Peninsula.
The evolution of Saudi-Emirati coordination in the coming months is likely to shape the trajectory of both conflicts.
The discussions reportedly centre on differing assessments of Sudan’s ongoing conflict, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and has since triggered one of the world’s most severe humanitarian emergencies.
Saudi Arabia has played a prominent diplomatic role in facilitating ceasefire talks and humanitarian corridors, hosting negotiations and coordinating with international partners to seek a political resolution.
Officials are said to have expressed concern that diverging external approaches risk prolonging instability and undermining mediation efforts.
In Yemen, where a fragile truce has significantly reduced large-scale hostilities since 2022, Saudi Arabia has pursued a sustained diplomatic track aimed at consolidating de-escalation and advancing a political settlement.
Riyadh has engaged directly with Yemeni factions and regional actors, framing its policy around long-term stability, reconstruction and economic recovery.
The report suggests Saudi officials have sought clarity from the UAE regarding its strategic posture and influence within southern Yemen, reflecting sensitivities over the endgame of the conflict.
Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain close strategic partners with deep economic and security ties.
However, analysts note that as regional diplomacy intensifies and geopolitical alignments shift, tactical differences over conflict management can surface even among longstanding allies.
Saudi Arabia has increasingly positioned itself as a central diplomatic actor in regional crises, leveraging its economic weight and political influence to promote negotiated solutions.
Its efforts in Sudan and Yemen form part of a broader foreign policy recalibration focused on de-escalation, regional dialogue and stability.
While no official breakdown in relations has been signalled, the reported exchanges underscore the complexity of managing parallel crises across the Red Sea corridor and the Arabian Peninsula.
The evolution of Saudi-Emirati coordination in the coming months is likely to shape the trajectory of both conflicts.
