Saudi Arabia turns to UAE 'white horse' as it gears up to battle Yemen's Houthis

Saudi Arabia has extended a hand to the UAE in a bid to combat the Houthis' military campaign in Yemen, which jeopardizes Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zayed to Riyadh, signaling a notable attempt at reconciliation between the two nations after disputes over Sudan, Yemen, and Somaliland.

According to Anna Jacobs, a non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute, the Houthi presence is driving Saudi Arabia and the UAE closer together. Both neighboring countries have been discussing cooperation on Yemen for months, but progress has been slow. The UAE sought a clear indication from Saudi Arabia of reconciling with the spat and concessions to Abu Dhabi's allies on the ground in Yemen.

In July, Saudi Arabia released a casual photograph of Mansour and Saudi Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman together, though the exact location and timing of their meeting remained undisclosed.