Saudi Arabia Pours Billions into Yemen to Reassert Control After UAE Exit

• Saudi Arabia is investing billions and political capital in Yemen to reassert control after the UAE's withdrawal, marking a regional reassertion.
• Riyadh plans to budget nearly $3 billion this year for Yemeni forces and civil servants' salaries, including $1 billion for southern fighters previously paid by Abu Dhabi.
• The kingdom aims for a success story in government-controlled Yemen to pressure Iran-aligned Houthi rebels into talks and strengthen government forces.
• Saudi Arabia has offered Yemeni secessionists the prospect of a separatist state after the Houthi conflict is resolved, a previously unreported political carrot.
• Despite domestic budget constraints and low oil prices, Saudi Arabia prioritizes Yemen's stability due to its shared 1,800km border and the risk of instability derailing Vision 2030.