NYN | News
The competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over the oil sectors in Hadramout is intensifying.
A recent report by the American magazine Foreign Affairs revealed the growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE within a covert struggle for control of the strategic resources in Hadramout Governorate, which is considered one of the region’s major oil reserves.
The report explained that the boundaries of influence between the two countries have started to take shape through an unspoken division, with Riyadh controlling the inland areas of the governorate, while Abu Dhabi retains significant influence over the coastal areas along the Arabian Sea.
The report also noted the periodic clashes between armed factions loyal to both sides (referring to the Southern Transitional Council forces and the Aden government forces), signaling the possibility of the competition turning into an open confrontation, especially as coordination mechanisms within the legitimacy support coalition face setbacks.
The report linked this local conflict to the broader backdrop of regional competition between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi for dominance in the political and economic landscape of the Middle East, with repercussions extending to other hot issues such as Sudan and Syria.
The roots of the crisis date back to 2015 with the launch of the Arab Coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, transforming southern Yemen—especially Hadramout—into a battleground for settling scores between the two allies, amidst concerns that this competition could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and complicate efforts to restore stability in the country.
It is worth noting that Hadramout has witnessed complex conflicts for years between locally supported forces, while warnings are growing about Yemen turning into a mosaic of areas under foreign influence.
