Thus, the Saudi-Emirati influence struggle sparked proxy wars from Yemen to Africa
The British website “Five Pillars” revealed sharp transformations in the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which has shifted from a regional partnership to an open conflict of influence spanning several arenas, most notably Yemen and the Horn of Africa, amid a clear conflict in interests and political and economic agendas.
Follow-ups – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:
According to the report, the Yemeni arena formed the most prominent explosion point of the dispute in late 2025, with escalating differences between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over managing areas of influence. The Saudi vision clashed with an Emirati strategy that sought to establish an independent presence through local tools, foremost among them the Southern Transitional Council, alongside attempts to control strategic ports overlooking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The report explained that this rivalry was not confined within Yemen’s geography but extended to the African continent, which turned into a theater of direct competition. Saudi Arabia supported the Sudanese Army, while the UAE patronized the Rapid Support Forces, contributing to the escalation of the internal conflict and culminating in Khartoum severing its relations with Abu Dhabi in May 2025.
It indicated that the Horn of Africa, in turn, witnessed a regional realignment led by Riyadh through growing security partnerships with Somalia and Egypt, aiming to curb Emirati influence, especially after Mogadishu’s decision to cancel port agreements and end Emirati military and economic presence.
The report clarified that the shift in Emirati policy is based on a growing partnership with the Israeli enemy entity, facilitated by normalization agreements and economic and security cooperation, which provided Abu Dhabi with a wider margin of movement outside the traditional Saudi umbrella.
It noted that the core of the disagreement is not limited to geographical competition but reflects a structural difference in tools. Saudi Arabia relies on dealing with governments and official authorities, while the Emirati approach is based on supporting factions and informal entities to ensure rapid influence and direct economic interests.
The report concluded that this mutual escalation heralds a new phase of regional instability, with the expansion of proxy wars and increasing indicators of disintegration within the Gulf camp, which will redraw the maps of influence from Yemen to Africa.