Saudi Arabia and UAE: From 'Iron Brothers' to Gulf Rivals

• The long-standing alliance between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has fractured, evolving into a quiet but significant rivalry.
• The shift is driven by economic competition, diverging security priorities, and clashing regional ambitions, with Yemen serving as a key battleground.
• Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and initiatives like "Project HQ" challenge Dubai's economic dominance, forcing multinationals to relocate.
• In Yemen, the two nations backed rival factions: Saudi Arabia supported the Presidential Leadership Council, while the UAE backed the Southern Transitional Council.
• Both countries are forging new alliances: Saudi Arabia with Pakistan and Turkey, and the UAE with India and Israel, reflecting their distinct strategic approaches.

Why It Matters: The Saudi-UAE alliance has transformed into a rivalry, reshaping Gulf politics due to economic and strategic divergences.