News - Yemen: Advisor to Yemen’s Supreme Political Council, Mohammed Taher Anam, said the Saudi–Emirati conflict in occupied Yemeni regions has escalated into an open struggle for territory, influence, and economic resources.

He stated that the rivalry is most visible in Hadhramaut, where both sides attempt to impose their own security and administrative structures. Anam added that Saudi Arabia blocks oil and gas extraction along its border zones and pressures companies to halt operations, while the UAE focuses on dominating coastal corridors and key maritime routes for long-term strategic control.

He said the conflicting agendas have triggered repeated confrontations between proxy forces in Aden, worsening security conditions and undermining basic services.

Anam argued that the rivalry reflects competing Western-aligned strategies, with Saudi Arabia leaning toward US policy frameworks while the UAE aligns more closely with British-backed regional plans.

He concluded that the Saudi–UAE struggle — combined with US geopolitical calculations — continues to fuel instability in Yemen’s occupied areas and reshape alliances across the region.

Competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE in southern and eastern Yemen has intensified over the past two years. Each side backs local armed groups, competes for control over ports and oil fields, and seeks influence over strategic land and maritime routes. These conflicting agendas have resulted in repeated clashes, security breakdowns, and deepening fragmentation in Yemen’s occupied areas.