“Al Yasat” Reserve sparks dispute between UAE, Saudi Arabia

ABU DHABI, June 05 (YPA) – UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected any Saudi demands or rights to extend its sovereignty overAl Yasat reserve and maritime areas separating the territorial sea between the two countries.

This came during a letter that the UAE’s Foreign Ministry sent to the United Nations, noting that the “Al Yasat” Natural Reserve is located in Territorial waters of the Emirates.
This UAE confirmation came in response to Saudi Arabia’s rejection of Abu Dhabi’s declaration that “Al Yasat” is a protected marine area, as Riyadh confirmed at the time that this declaration “contradicts international law.

On March 18, the Saudi Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations affirming that it “does not recognize any legal impact of the UAE’s declaration that Al Yasat is a protected marine area.”

“The Kingdom does not recognize any measures or practices taken, or their consequences, by the UAE government in the maritime area off the Saudi coast,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said, according to the UN memorandum.

Riyadh stressed that it “adheres to all its rights and interests, in accordance with the border agreement concluded between the two countries, on August 21, 1974, which is binding on both parties in accordance with public international law.”

Al Yasat is located near the territorial waters of the Emirates, and belongs to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as the UAE has considered it a marine protected area for the first time in 2005.

AA