Riyadh Reveals What It Describes as an Emirati Plan to Redraw Influence in Southern Yemen
Enticements of Villas and Citizenship and the Fragmentation of the Political and Military Front Within the Legitimate Camp
NYN | Reports and Analyses
The Saudi newspaper Al-Watan has revealed details of what it described as an “Emirati plan to topple southern Yemen,” accusing Abu Dhabi of working to undermine Saudi influence through coordinated political and security moves targeting the government of Rashad Al-Alimi and leaders loyal to Riyadh.
The Emirati Ambassador at the Center of the Accusations
According to the Saudi newspaper, Salem bin Khalifa Al-Ghafli, the UAE ambassador based in Riyadh, is considered the main driver of this alleged plan. He is said to have led direct outreach efforts to officials and figures within the Al-Alimi government residing in Saudi Arabia, offering them incentives and benefits in exchange for changing their political loyalties.
Two Tracks of the Plan: Enticement and Fragmentation
The newspaper explained that the Emirati plan relied on two main tracks. The first involved offering extensive inducements, including palaces and residential villas, high financial salaries, and the granting of Emirati citizenship, with the aim of attracting ministers and military and civilian leaders to join Abu Dhabi’s camp in Yemen.
The second track focused on fueling internal disputes and fragmenting the ranks within the Saudi-aligned camp, through promises of greater positions and political influence in the event that the southern secession project succeeds.
A Broader Regional Link
According to Al-Watan, the plan does not stop at Yemen’s borders, but is linked to what the newspaper described as a broader “Israeli plan” extending geographically from Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, through the island of Socotra, Mukalla, Aden, and Mayyun Island, all the way to Bab al-Mandab and Sudan—within a framework aimed at reshaping balances of influence in the Red Sea and strategic maritime corridors.
Media Escalation Reflects the Depth of the Rift
Observers believe that the publication of these accusations in Saudi media reflects an unprecedented escalation in the rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over the management of the Yemeni file, signaling a new phase of political and media confrontation between the two coalition partners in the south of the country.
