Bloomberg: The Saudi–Emirati Power Struggle in Yemen and the Red Sea Comes into the Open
An American report reveals the shift in the dispute between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi from behind-the-scenes tensions to direct confrontation on Yemeni soil and across strategic maritime corridors
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The American news agency Bloomberg, in an extensive report, revealed that Saudi–Emirati relations entered a phase of “open confrontation” in early January 2026, against the backdrop of escalating competition between the two countries for control over Yemen and the vital Red Sea shipping lanes.
Citing informed sources, the agency reported that Riyadh has begun serious and concrete moves aimed at curbing Emirati regional influence, particularly in Yemen and the Horn of Africa, after years of managing disagreements through diplomatic channels.
From Diplomacy to the Military Grip
According to the report, Saudi Arabia is no longer relying solely on political avenues, but has shifted toward a direct security–military option, signaling a fundamental change in its approach to the Yemeni file.
In this context, Bloomberg revealed that Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman has been tasked with full oversight of the Yemen portfolio, a move the agency viewed as a clear indication that the issue has been transferred from a political framework to firm military management.
Strikes on the Southern Transitional Council and Messages to Abu Dhabi
The agency noted that Saudi airstrikes targeting positions affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council in Mukalla and Al-Dhalea carried a direct military message to Abu Dhabi: Riyadh’s influence in Yemen goes beyond previous alliances and is no longer bound by old understandings.
Sudan Ignites the Fuse of the Dispute
The report outlined the political background to the recent escalation, explaining that Abu Dhabi believes the Saudi Crown Prince exploited his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the Sudan file in a manner that marginalized the Emirati role. This, according to Bloomberg, prompted Abu Dhabi to respond by mobilizing Southern Transitional Council forces in southern Yemen as an indirect act of retaliation.
Regional Mobilization and Growing Emirati Isolation
As part of efforts to strengthen its position, Riyadh sent its Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, to Cairo on January 5, 2026, where Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced full coordination with Saudi Arabia on the Yemen and Sudan files.
Bloomberg views this coordination as reflecting growing regional isolation of the Emirati position on both issues.
Abu Dhabi Responds: We Will Not Submit to Hegemony
The agency relayed an unofficial Emirati response through statements by Emirati academic Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, who is close to the authorities, saying:
“The UAE will not submit to Saudi dictates. The dispute reflects a struggle over the balance of power: Riyadh seeks absolute leadership, and Abu Dhabi rejects this logic.”
Yemen as an Arena for Regional Score-Settling
Bloomberg analysts concluded that Yemen has become an arena for direct score-settling between the two Gulf powers, as the conflict has turned into a race for influence over ports and strategic waterways, foremost among them:
Aden, Mukalla, Socotra, and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
According to the report, the core of the dispute is not limited to Yemen alone, but extends to a broader question: Who will lead the “new regional order” in the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea?
