Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long been regarded as strategic partners in the Middle East. As founding and leading members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the two states share deep economic ties, cultural affinities, and overlapping security interests.

This coordination has been evident during pivotal regional moments, from the 1973 oil embargo to the U.S.-led coalition in the 1991 Gulf War, and more recently during the 2017 blockade of Qatar. In each case, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi acted in concert to shape regional outcomes and protect shared interests.

Yet, deepening divergences over regional interests and how to achieve them have set the two countries on a collision course, one that may hinder the region writ large and complicate U.S. foreign policy thinking. 

In Yemen and Sudan, two countries marred by devastating internal conflicts, competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has become increasingly visible. In December 2025, tensions hit an all-time high when Saudi

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