The Saudi-UAE Divide over the Yemen Quagmire

Abstract

The expansion of Iranian influence through the Houthi rebels in Yemen alarmed Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, leading them to intervene in the civil war. However, this only prolonged the conflict, in part because the two Gulf neighbors failed to coordinate—indeed, they often followed divergent policies. One reason for this was ideological, as the Saudis favored Yemen's al-Islah party, an offshoot of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement. The Emiratis rejected this group and opposed Saudi-backed President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi due to his links to it. The other area of dispute was the UAE's support for secessionists seeking an independent South Yemen, largely driven by Emirati economic interests. Saudi Arabia strongly resisted separation and prioritized the fight against the Houthis. The article analyzes the many facets of the divide over Yemen and shows how the rift is affecting other parts of the region.