The simmering rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi has reached new heights, culminating in an unusually sharp public warning from Saudi Arabia broadcast on the kingdom’s state-run Al-Ikhbariya TV. The warning came just two days after Aidaroos al-Zubaidi, head of Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC), reappeared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
In its televised report, Saudi Arabia accused the UAE of “continuing to incite hostility against the Kingdom” and warned that Riyadh “will not hesitate to take the necessary measures against anyone who threatens its national security.” The segment described the Saudi statement of December 30 as a “final call” to Abu Dhabi, noting that “three weeks have passed, and Abu Dhabi continues its provocations against the Kingdom.”
The report went further, alleging that Abu Dhabi smuggled al-Zubaidi—wanted by Yemeni justice—out of the country, and has been financing him and his followers “to foment unrest among Yemeni groups against Saudi influence.” The network also accused the UAE of funding protests and civil unrest in Aden aimed at undermining intra-southern dialogue efforts, insisting that Abu Dhabi must “halt all military and financial support for any actors in Yemen outside the framework of coordination with Riyadh and Yemen’s legitimate government.”
Observers noted a deliberate linguistic shift in Saudi media—referring pointedly to “Abu Dhabi” rather than “the United Arab Emirates”—a move widely seen as an attempt to distance the ruling leadership from a broader condemnation of the Emirati state.
Al-Zubaidi’s Reemergence
The Saudi broadcast followed al-Zubaidi’s reappearance online, where he called on southerners to remain steadfast, pledging loyalty to the “blood of martyrs and the sacrifices of heroes.” His message emphasized unity and determination to achieve “the national goal,” signaling continued defiance despite mounting Saudi pressure.
Emerging Saudi Alliances
Reports suggest Riyadh has been quietly assembling a new strategic bloc—including Pakistan and Turkey—and recently facilitated an arms deal for Sudan’s army through Islamabad. Egyptian intelligence is believed to have tipped Riyadh off about UAE efforts to establish a string of military outposts stretching from Yemen’s Bab al-Mandeb Strait to Somaliland, Sudan, and western Libya via cooperation with Khalifa Haftar.
Both Saudi and Egyptian sources reportedly view these Emirati-Israeli moves as a potential attempt to “encircle” their countries and undermine regional security. Cairo appears to have taken unprecedented action, with reports indicating that the Egyptian military struck an arms convoy near al-‘Uwaynat allegedly smuggling UAE-supplied weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces via Haftar’s Libyan network.
This geopolitical strain contrasts sharply with the ongoing economic cooperation between Egypt and the UAE. Even as Emirati real estate giants negotiate new projects in Egypt, Cairo has issued new laws safeguarding foreign property ownership—a move drawing public criticism and sparking warnings of “legalized colonization” and concerns over Israeli investment infiltration in upscale neighborhoods.
Yemen Accuses UAE of Operating Secret Prisons
In a separate development, the Saudi-backed Yemeni government on Monday accused the UAE of running “secret detention sites” in southern Yemen under the control of Emirati forces and their separatist allies.
During a press conference in Mukalla, Salem al-Khanbashi, governor of Hadramout and member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, announced that authorities had “discovered several secret prisons” allegedly used by UAE forces and pledged to document violations and prosecute those responsible. He emphasized that accountability would extend to al-Zubaidi, Emirati officials, and anyone found complicit.
The event, attended by foreign journalists, was part of an official government inspection visit. On Tuesday, reporters were taken to two alleged detention sites, as well as to Riyan Air Base, where Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani displayed metal containers filled with explosive materials and detonators, said to have been left behind by Emirati forces and their allies.
Gulf Rift Widens After Emirati Withdrawal
Abu Dhabi announced last month that it had fully withdrawn its troops from Yemen “at the request of the legitimate government.” Despite this, tensions between the former Gulf allies remain high, particularly after UAE-backed southern forces briefly gained ground before being forcibly pushed back by Saudi military units.
On January 12, Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi ordered a comprehensive review of unofficial detention centers, mandating their closure and the release or transfer of detainees to government-run prisons. The move aims to reassert central control over Yemen’s fragmented security apparatus.
Human rights groups have long accused all warring parties—including UAE-backed separatists—of arbitrary arrests and abuses. Allegations of Emirati-run prisons first surfaced in a 2017 Associated Press investigation, which described secret torture sites in Aden and Mukalla. Abu Dhabi has repeatedly denied the claims, saying it does not operate any prisons in Yemen—a stance it has yet to reiterate amid the latest round of accusations.
Sources: Monte Carlo Doualiya / Al-Yurea
