Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan addressed the growing rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi during a press conference in Warsaw. Speaking alongside his Polish counterpart, the Minister expressed a desire for a “strong and positive” relationship with the UAE but made it clear that regional stability hinges on the UAE’s complete and verifiable military withdrawal from Yemen. This public demand follows a volatile month that saw the two Gulf allies exchange unprecedented diplomatic fire.
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The tension reached a breaking point in late December 2025 when UAE-backed separatists, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), seized strategic border regions in Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra. In a sharp escalation, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on the Port of Mukalla to intercept a weapons shipment allegedly sent by Abu Dhabi. By January 9, 2026, under intense Saudi pressure and a 24-hour ultimatum, the UAE announced the withdrawal of its remaining counter-terrorism units, effectively ending its decade-long mission in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia hopes to have “strong, positive” ties with the UAE, the Kingdom’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan says during a press conference in Warsaw, but stresses that future relations are contingent on Abu Dhabi’s complete withdrawal from Yemen.
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— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 26, 2026
While the UAE maintains that its exit was a “comprehensive assessment” of its military objectives, Riyadh views the move as a necessary step to restore the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Prince Faisal emphasized that once the “Yemen file” is settled, Saudi Arabia is prepared to take full responsibility for the coalition’s mission. For now, the “brotherly ties” remain under observation as Riyadh moves to fill the security vacuum left by Abu Dhabi in southern Yemen.
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