1. Saudi Arabia launches military strikes linked to the UAE for the first time officially, and we threaten the UAE in an official statement
On December 30, 2025, Saudi Arabia launched air strikes on the port of Mukalla in Yemen, targeting an arms shipment that it said came from the UAE and was intended for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council forces, a direct escalation in the relationship between the two countries. 
Highlights:
• Saudi target: Weapons and combat vehicles were transported through the port of Mukalla, and are believed to have been sent from the UAE port of Fujairah to separatist forces in Yemen.
• Saudi warning: Riyadh described Abu Dhabi’s direct support for separatist forces as a serious threat to regional stability, and threatened to take strong measures if these steps continued.
• A Yemeni reaction in support of Saudi Arabia: The Yemeni Presidential Council (headed by Rashad Al-Alimi) demanded the withdrawal of UAE forces from Yemen within 24 hours, and issued a state of emergency in the areas it controls, which reflects the seriousness of the escalation.
This event represents the strongest military escalation between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in many years, and puts Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in direct confrontation over influence in Yemen.
2. Why this escalation? Conflict background
This is not the first time that relations have witnessed tensions, but since there have always been limited tensions beneath the surface, what is happening now is a qualitative shift in the nature of the dispute:
a) The Riyadh Agreement and the conflict inside Yemen
The Riyadh Agreement was signed in 2019 with the aim of unifying efforts between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the UAE-backed Transitional Council. But implementation remained faltering, and with the increasing strength of the Southern Transitional Council in Hadramaut and Al-Mahra, the differences between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi began heading towards a clash.
b) Extensive competition in the region
Saudi Arabia and the UAE have long competed not only politically and militarily, but also economically and strategically in regions such as the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Sudan, which has increased the intensity of the differences recently.
3. Is Saudi Arabia threatening to actually “strike the UAE”? Realistic truth
There is no official Saudi announcement that Riyadh will attack the UAE directly on its territory.
But what happened is closer to a practical threat because:
a). Saudi Arabia carried out military operations on assets linked to the UAE in Yemen.
b). The UAE has been warned against its continued support for separatist forces that may lead to a decline in Saudi interests in Yemen and the region.
c). The dispute between the two sides accelerated in political signals, including statements by leaders from both sides that reflect mutual dissatisfaction.
4. What does this escalation mean for the UAE and the region?
✔Division in Gulf alliances: Saudi-Emirati tension weakens the unity of the Arab coalition in Yemen.
✔The potential for the conflict to expand in Yemen: UAE-backed separatists are on the rise, posing a threat to Saudi Arabia’s vision of Yemen’s unity.
✔Strategic implications: Power differences could expand to affect investments, maritime security in the Red Sea, and the international movement of Gulf politics.
Current events show an unprecedented escalation in Saudi-UAE relations in 2025, mainly linked to the influence struggle in Yemen and support for competing parties.
This escalation cannot be described as a mere verbal threat, but rather a practical step by striking targets linked to a partner country, which opens the door to more sensitive scenarios in the near future.
