Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen have come into the open, underscoring a deeper and long-developing divergence in how the two Gulf powers view security, governance and influence across the Middle East.

The latest strain centres on southern Yemen, where competing local partners and rival political objectives have brought long-standing differences into sharper focus.

Saudi Arabia has prioritised preserving Yemen’s territorial unity and supporting internationally recognised political structures, viewing stability on its southern border as a core national security imperative.

The UAE, by contrast, has backed influential southern factions with separatist ambitions, reflecting a more decentralised vision for Yemen’s future and a focus on securing strategic ports and maritime routes.

These contrasting approaches, once managed within a shared coalition framework, have increasingly proven difficult to reconcile.

Recent developments involving the movement and protection of southern Yemeni political figures have highlighted the rift, prompting strong reactions from Riyadh and exposing the limits of coordination between the two allies.

While both governments remain aligned on countering hostile militias and curbing external interference, their methods and end goals in Yemen now diverge more clearly, according to regional officials and analysts.

The Yemen dispute mirrors broader differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over regional leadership, economic strategy and political influence.

Saudi Arabia has moved to assert a more central diplomatic and security role across the Middle East, emphasising state sovereignty and regional stabilisation, while Abu Dhabi has pursued a more network-based approach built around local allies and strategic footholds.

Despite continued cooperation in many areas, the Yemen disagreement illustrates how overlapping ambitions and differing strategic visions are reshaping relationships within the Gulf.