Sanaa Official: Saudi-UAE rivalry in Yemen is race for “exclusive proxy” to serve Zionism

SANAA, Jan. 12 (YPA) – Chairman of the Board of the Yemeni News Agency (SABA) in Sanaa, Nasr al-Din Amer, stated that “the recent friction between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) does not signal a fundamental shift in their policies toward Yemen.”

Instead, he framed the tension as a competitive race to provide “exclusive services” to the United States and the Zionist entity.

Amer noted that both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have played direct roles in attempting to bypass the maritime blockade imposed by the Yemeni armed forces on the Zionist entity. He highlighted their cooperation in establishing a “land bridge” to supply the Israeli occupation during its ongoing aggression against Gaza.

According to Amer, the current rift is not born of a political awakening or a strategic pivot. He emphasized that the UAE’s actions in Yemen—ranging from normalization efforts to the support of armed factions—remain unchanged, which raises questions regarding the timing of the recent Saudi mobilization against Emirati influence.

Furthermore, Amer pointed out that Riyadh remains committed to the path of normalization, citing recent statements by the Saudi Crown Prince expressing a continued desire to establish ties with the Israeli occupation.

He concluded by asserting that Saudi Arabia does not oppose serving the Zionist project and is actively doing so; however, it insists on being the “sole exclusive agent” for these interests, rejecting any attempts by the UAE or other regional players to eclipse its role.

YPA