A well-informed source disclosed that United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed had instructed the reactivation of an assassination network targeting senior Yemeni figures opposed to Abu Dhabi, with the targets this time inside Saudi Arabia.
According to the source, Saudi security forces foiled an attempt to assassinate a Yemeni official on Saudi territory six days ago, amid growing tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over the future of Yemen and the two countries’ respective influence in the south.
The source said the assassination attempt targeted an official from the internationally recognized Yemeni government who has political and tribal influence, but whose name was withheld for security reasons.
He said Mohammed bin Zayed tasked his special adviser, Mohammed Dahlan, with reactivating assassination networks previously used in Yemen, while excluding Israeli national Abraham Golan from the operation following controversy over his previous role and pressure generated by the case in Britain.
These developments point to a possible escalation of the struggle for influence in Yemen to a more dangerous level, particularly amid reports of attempts to target figures within the Yemeni government whom Abu Dhabi regards as obstacles to its political and security project in southern Yemen.
Saudi-Emirati differences have become increasingly pronounced in recent months, as the competition for influence in Yemen has evolved from differences within the former alliance into a more overt political and military confrontation.
In December 2025, Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Al-Mukalla port, saying the strikes targeted weapons and military equipment that had arrived from the UAE for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council. The development exposed the depth of mistrust between the two former allies.
The dispute escalated following moves by the Southern Transitional Council to seize large areas of southern and eastern Yemen, before Saudi-backed forces managed to retake significant parts of those areas.
Reports have revealed sharp differences over the future of southern Yemen. Abu Dhabi supports the Southern Transitional Council and its secessionist project, while Riyadh has focused on preserving Yemen’s state framework and preventing the establishment of an independent southern entity near its borders.
Saudi-Emirati competition has also extended to other regional issues, including Sudan and the Horn of Africa, while differences over economic influence and energy have become increasingly apparent. Research sources have described the dispute as no longer confined to Yemen, but extending to Sudan, oil policies, and economic competition.
The UAE’s withdrawal from OPEC in April 2026 added an economic dimension to the dispute. Abu Dhabi announced its withdrawal from OPEC and OPEC+ effective May 1, a move Reuters said deepened the rift with Saudi Arabia, the organization’s leading power, and gave the UAE greater freedom to determine its oil production levels.
This coincided with signs of diverging calculations in Sudan and the Horn of Africa, where Saudi Arabia supported diplomatic initiatives different from those pursued by the UAE, while Sudanese authorities accused Abu Dhabi of supporting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia. The UAE denied the accusations, and Reuters was unable to independently verify them.
Despite the widening differences, Abu Dhabi has officially sought to emphasize its solidarity with Riyadh, particularly regarding Houthi threats. In July 2026, the UAE Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its full support for Saudi Arabia and condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi territory and facilities.
This indicates that the dispute between the two countries does not amount to a comprehensive rupture, but reflects a shift in the relationship from close coordination toward competition over influence and interests.
In this context, the attempt to assassinate a Yemeni official inside Saudi Arabia is particularly serious, as it could mean that the competition previously conducted through local actors in Yemen may have begun to reach Saudi territory itself.
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