Security threats across the Arabian Gulf are escalating as Yemen’s war returns to the forefront of regional tensions.
Continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and infrastructure, alongside the group’s expansion along Yemen’s western coast, have heightened concerns over strategic areas near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea.
The conflict escalated sharply in September 2026, when Iran-backed Houthi forces seized the strategic port city of Mocha and Perim Island (Mayyun) in a rapid offensive along Yemen’s western coast.
The territorial gains strengthened the group’s position around the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital global shipping corridor linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
These developments have renewed pressure on regional powers to coordinate their response, following earlier tensions over Yemen’s political and security future.
Saudi airstrikes in Hadramout previously highlighted the divisions shaping the conflict.
Against this backdrop, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman visited the United Arab Emirates, where UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received him in Abu Dhabi on 18 October 2026.
The meeting reflected both countries’ commitment to strengthening political and security coordination amid rising regional threats and growing concerns about Gulf stability.
Prince Khalid also met UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The discussions focused on bilateral relations, regional developments and ways to strengthen cooperation in support of regional security, stability and lasting peace, according to the UAE Presidency’s official account of the meeting
Saudi Arabia and UAE seek to overcome Yemen disagreements
Both countries have sought to move beyond the disagreements that emerged over Yemen in January 2026.
Renewed coordination could help address the risks posed by the Houthis and other threats to regional security.
Saudi-Emirati cooperation forms part of a broader strategy to protect territory and critical infrastructure, secure maritime navigation and counter attempts to establish military control around the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
It also supports efforts to advance a political process that prevents Yemen from becoming a persistent source of threats against neighbouring states.
Both countries recognise that insecurity around the strait could affect the wider Gulf.
Any escalation targeting Saudi Arabia or the UAE could also have consequences for other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Attacks on Saudi Arabia are therefore increasingly viewed as a threat to the wider Gulf bloc rather than a purely national security concern.
The GCC has expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and supported measures to protect its sovereignty and territory amid missile and drone attacks.
The wider concern is that Yemen’s conflict could undermine the Gulf’s collective security framework.
Sustained coordination is essential to prevent missiles, drones and strategically important shipping routes from becoming instruments of continued regional pressure.
Yemen’s security imbalances leave room for Houthi expansion
The fallout from the January 2026 developments exposed vulnerabilities in Yemen’s security and military structures, particularly following the UAE’s withdrawal from the conflict.
Security and intelligence coordination weakened, while local forces faced challenges securing funding, equipment and operational support.
Divisions among anti-Houthi factions further complicated efforts to contain the group’s expansion.
Al-Qaeda in Yemen has historically exploited weak state control and internal conflict to expand its presence, particularly in the country’s southern and eastern regions.
In previous years, the UAE trained and supported local forces tasked with countering the militant group in governorates such as Hadramawt, Shabwah and Abyan.
Following the withdrawal, these security structures faced difficulties maintaining the training, funding and coordination needed to sustain counter-terrorism operations.
Meanwhile, renewed fighting and the collapse of the 2022 truce created further opportunities for armed groups to consolidate their positions.
The consequences extend beyond the battlefield. The wars in Sudan and Yemen have renewed opportunities for ISIS and al-Qaeda to exploit instability and gaps in state control.
Security assessments suggest that the rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE reduced pressure on the Houthis, helping the group strengthen its position in parts of Yemen.
The country remains divided into competing zones of influence, while Iran retains leverage through its support for the Houthis.
The resulting fragmentation has deepened concerns about Yemen’s political future and the stability of alliances across the Arabian Peninsula.
UAE’s military role and reported return to Yemen
The UAE’s involvement in Yemen has been shaped by a complex mix of military operations and political developments since the Arab coalition entered the conflict in 2015.
According to The New Yorker, the reduction of Emirati influence in Yemen has contributed to the Houthis’ recent advances.
Some observers argue that the conflict might have followed a different course had the UAE remained more actively engaged.
Emirati forces played a role in major operations during the civil war, helping repel a Houthi advance on Aden and supporting efforts to remove al-Qaeda militants from Mukalla, where the group had established a significant presence.
Working alongside southern Yemeni forces, the UAE also supported operations to secure strategic areas along the western coast and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
It contributed to the training and development of local forces tasked with confronting the Houthis.
Against this background, The Guardian reported on 17 October that the UAE had agreed to resume funding certain Yemeni government forces in exchange for Saudi air cover.
The reported arrangement would see Abu Dhabi restore financial support to selected anti-Houthi forces in southern Yemen, including the Giant Brigades, while Riyadh provides aerial protection.
The report, citing Yemeni sources, suggested that the understanding could help restore military coordination between the two Gulf powers as Houthi advances and attacks on Saudi infrastructure intensify.
The arrangement had not been officially announced at the time of reporting.
Any renewed cooperation would mark a significant development in Saudi-Emirati relations after months of tension over Yemen.
However, it would not automatically resolve the political divisions among the country’s competing factions or guarantee a lasting settlement.
As fighting intensifies and pressure mounts around key maritime routes, the effectiveness of renewed coordination will depend on whether both countries can translate their security cooperation into a more stable political and military environment.
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