Public Emirati Escalation Challenges Riyadh: Al-Alimi Barred from Aden Indefinitely
Influential Emirati statements reveal the Saudi–Emirati rift in Yemen shifting from quiet rivalry to open confrontation.
NYN | Reports and Analyses
Saudi–Emirati relations have entered a sharp turning point amid an escalating struggle for influence inside Yemen, particularly in the southern and eastern governorates, with growing indications that the dispute between the two sides has reached an unprecedented level of open tension.
Striking Emirati Statements
In the latest chapter of this escalation, Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla—known for his close ties to decision-making circles in Abu Dhabi—made blunt statements targeting Rashad Al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, in what was described as the clearest and most severe stance in years.
Abdulla said on his social media accounts that Al-Alimi “will not return to Aden again,” a remark that observers interpreted as a direct challenge to the Saudi role within what is known as the “legitimacy” camp.
An Explicit Political Message
According to analysts, these remarks amount to an explicit Emirati political message reflecting a shrinking margin of understanding with Riyadh, and a shift from managing differences behind the scenes to exchanging positions openly—carrying serious implications for the future of the alliance between the two countries on the Yemeni file.
An Open Struggle for Influence
Observers believe that these developments signal a new phase in the Saudi–Emirati conflict, characterized by indirect confrontation through local proxies, at a time when divisions within the coalition-aligned forces are deepening, further complicating prospects for reorganizing the political and security landscape in southern Yemen.
