UN envoy concludes Saudi, Emirati tour without breakthrough in Yemeni file
SANAA, Nov. 14 (YPA) -The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates without any positive indications of progress or a breakthrough in the Yemeni file.
Despite rising tensions and heightened expectations—whether toward a return to war or movement toward a just settlement—the statement issued by the envoy on Wednesday evening offered no clear signals that could be read optimistically. The tour, which included a rare stop in the UAE, provided little evidence of substantive movement.
Grundberg reiterated that “reaching an inclusive political solution that reflects the aspirations of Yemenis and addresses regional concerns remains a shared priority,” adding that his discussions focused on recent developments and ongoing UN efforts to sustain momentum toward dialogue aimed at achieving lasting peace and stability.
Many observers viewed these remarks as falling short of what is required for a durable peace, noting the absence of even basic reassurances for Sana’a, which has in recent weeks intensified its calls for a fair settlement and an end to the prolonged state of no-war, no-peace that has persisted since April 2022.
Analysts say Riyadh and Abu Dhabi’s failure to respond to Sana’a’s appeals to address the humanitarian situation and pursue a comprehensive peace may signal ill intentions—particularly amid heightened regional tensions and explicit Israeli threats against Yemen following Sanaa’s military support for the Palestinians and its naval operations targeting “Israel” in response to the Gaza war.
The mounting pressures on Yemen and the wider region, analysts argue, require Saudi Arabia and the UAE to adopt clearer and more decisive positions to prevent heightened tensions with Sana’a. They believe both capitals missed an opportunity to use Grundberg’s visit to send confidence-building signals, instead allowing him to depart with no discernible progress.
This has reinforced a widely held view among experts that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi remain reluctant to diverge from hardline US or Israeli policy directions regarding Yemen.
Meanwhile, the recent disclosure of what Yemeni authorities describe as a Saudi–US–Israeli espionage network operating from within Saudi territory has deepened Sana’a’s sense of insecurity and its preparations for a potential new phase of confrontation.
According to observers, this development highlights the need for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to clarify their positions without delay, as the current sensitive phase leaves little room for ambiguity.
@E.Y.M