Saudi Arabia and UAE Seek Alliance Against Houthi Advances
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are negotiating a military alliance to stop Houthi forces from seizing Taiz and the Bab al-Mandab strait.
The Government of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are facing pressure to reconcile their diplomatic rift to form a unified military alliance against Iran-aligned Houthi forces. The two nations have been divided since January 2026, when Saudi Arabia attacked the Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group aligned with the UAE.
Regional geopolitics shifted in mid-September after Houthi forces seized the Bab al-Mandab strait, a critical chokepoint for Saudi oil exports. Houthi militants are currently launching simultaneous waves of attacks to capture the south-western city of Taiz. In response, the UN-recognized government has sanctioned a general mobilization of the Yemeni people to stem the advance.
Diplomatic efforts to bridge the gap include a meeting in Abu Dhabi with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a subsequent meeting in Riyadh between Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman al Saud and UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. While the White House and Israel have offered support, Saudi Arabia remains reluctant to cooperate with Israel or empower southern separatists.
