By Iroyin Yoruba Television News Desk
Saudi Arabia has extended a high-level invitation to the United Arab Emirates, with Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman formally inviting UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Riyadh on Tuesday, 29 September 2026.
The invitation marks a significant diplomatic move amid escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi territory, as Riyadh seeks to rebuild Gulf cooperation against a shared security threat.
What Happened
The invitation was extended on Monday, 28 September, according to reports citing Saudi and UAE officials. The UAE state news agency WAM confirmed that Sheikh Mansour accepted the invitation and would make a friendly visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The meeting comes as Houthi forces have intensified their military campaign against Saudi Arabia, striking deep into the kingdom's territory and targeting key oil infrastructure.
Background: Saudi-UAE Tensions Over Yemen
The invitation is notable because Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been locked in a serious dispute over Yemen policy in recent months.
The two countries were founding pillars of the Arab coalition that intervened in Yemen's civil war in 2015. However, they have diverged sharply over control of southern Yemen and post-war influence.
The core of the conflict has been the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist movement that the UAE has supported militarily. Saudi Arabia has backed Yemen's internationally recognized government and prioritized the fight against the Houthis. The UAE's support for the STC, which has clashed with Saudi-backed government forces, has been viewed by Riyadh as undermining the anti-Houthi coalition and threatening Saudi national security.
Earlier this year, the tensions reached a peak when southern separatist forces launched independent military operations against Saudi-backed government troops. Saudi Arabia effectively accused the UAE of being behind the provocations, and relations cooled rapidly, leading the UAE to withdraw its forces from Yemen.
The two countries also clashed over policy toward Iran. The UAE, which has suffered more Iranian airstrikes than most Middle Eastern states, advocated a strong military response. Saudi Arabia took a more measured approach, creating further friction.
Why the Invitation Matters
The timing of the invitation, as Houthi attacks intensify, suggests Saudi Arabia is seeking to repair the rift and rebuild a unified front.
Houthi forces have expanded their target bank in Saudi Arabia, striking Riyadh, Jizan, and Yanbu with missiles and drones. Intelligence sources cited by Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar reported that Houthi forces have designated approximately $100 billion worth of Aramco assets in Jizan, Najran, and Yanbu as legitimate targets.
The Houthis have also claimed to have tested and penetrated French and Greek air defense systems in Yanbu and Taif. Military sources said the arrival of missiles and drones deep into the Saudi capital, passing through all Patriot systems deployed in Jizan and Najran, demonstrates the failure of these systems to protect Saudi Arabia.
Satellite imagery cited by Al-Akhbar claimed that an attack on Yanbu damaged Aramco oil storage tanks, with Sentinel-2 images showing fires in several large tanks at the Al-Muajjiz terminal.
The Broader Conflict
The Saudi-UAE diplomatic move comes amid a wider escalation between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia that has drawn in international powers.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Washington. Rubio said the two discussed "bilateral cooperation in regional security and stability, including in Iran, Gaza, Sudan, and Yemen." The Saudi SPA state news agency reported that the diplomats addressed "the security of navigation and freedom of passage" through the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
The meeting followed US media reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had sought US military help against the Houthis. Washington declined to carry out strikes but agreed to provide intelligence and targeting support, according to Reuters.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would send military assets to protect key energy sites in Saudi Arabia. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK would provide "defensive air-to-air refueling" support for Saudi Arabia amid continued Houthi attacks, and London was reported to be "close" to agreeing to operational support for Saudi forces.
Humanitarian Impact in Yemen
The escalation has taken a heavy toll on civilians in Yemen.
Houthi health authorities reported that a Saudi airstrike on a house in the Al-Ma'afar district of southern Taiz killed four people and wounded several others. A separate report from Yemen's state news agency, citing local sources, said 47 civilians were killed and wounded when coalition aircraft struck shops in the central market of Taiz. Initial reports indicated seven civilians were killed and 40 others injured.
The Houthis said Saudi aircraft conducted 38 airstrikes on residential areas in Taiz, Saada and Hajjah provinces in a 24-hour period, bringing the total number of Saudi airstrikes and missile attacks since the current escalation began to 1,123.
The United Nations migration agency said that since July, 76,000 people had fled the fighting in Yemen, a figure that had quadrupled since the previous week. About 1,400 people had fled to Djibouti, according to that country's minister of economy and finance.
What Happens Next
The Saudi-UAE meeting on Tuesday will be closely watched for signs of whether the two countries can rebuild their security cooperation.
Analysts say the Houthi threat has made it imperative for Riyadh to mend fences with Abu Dhabi. The UAE's military capabilities, intelligence networks, and knowledge of southern Yemen are considered valuable assets in any coordinated response to the Houthi campaign.
However, the underlying dispute over the STC and southern Yemen's future remains unresolved. Whether the two countries can set aside their differences in the face of the Houthi threat will determine the effectiveness of any renewed Gulf coalition.
The conflict itself shows no signs of abating. Houthi political bureau member Mohammed al-Farah threatened on X that "as long as Saudi Arabia continues the war and siege of Yemen, the security of this country and its oil and economic facilities will not be guaranteed." He said stopping the war and lifting the siege were conditions for ensuring Saudi Arabia's security and stability and the resumption of its oil exports.
What Remains Unclear
Several key questions remain unanswered. The exact agenda of the Saudi-UAE meeting has not been disclosed, and it is unclear whether the two countries will announce concrete military cooperation measures.
The extent of damage to Saudi oil infrastructure from Houthi attacks has not been independently verified. While satellite imagery cited by Al-Akhbar showed fires at the Al-Muajjiz terminal, Aramco has not confirmed damage or disruption to exports.
The fate of the proposed ceasefire through Omani mediation remains uncertain. Reports indicated Saudi Arabia had offered a two-week truce, but the Houthis reportedly rejected it, demanding a comprehensive solution including an end to the blockade and the withdrawal of Saudi military presence from Yemeni affairs.
For now, the Saudi-UAE meeting stands as a significant diplomatic development amid an escalating conflict that has drawn in the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, and threatens one of the world's most critical maritime corridors.