Saudi Arabia–United Arab Emirates relations are the relations between two neighbouring countries that share extensive political and cultural ties. The two countries are close allies in terms of foreign policy, geopolitical interests, economical interests, and military alliance.[1]
The Buraimi dispute was a series of covert attempts by Saudi Arabia to influence the region of Al Buraimi and parts of Al Ain which resulted in an armed conflict and a territorial dispute between Saudi Arabia on one side and Oman and the Trucial States on the other. The dispute eventually culminated with Saudi defeat after the intervention of the Trucial Oman Scouts.[2]
UAE declaration of independence (1971 - 1974)
After the declaration of independence of the United Arab Emirates in 1971, Saudi Arabia withheld the recognition of the country and Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as a President on the basis of territorial disputes that occurred in the Buraimi dispute with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and continued to deal with the emirates as individual emirates bypassing the federal union. In 1974, King Faisal was asked by Sheikh Zayed that the UAE was in dire need of cooperation from Saudi Arabia in its recognition of the country and was asked to open the negotiations over the border issue. King Faisal felt the handling of the Buraimi dispute in which Saudi troops were defeated and forcibly removed was a great insult to the Kingdom and a blow to be avenged. King Faisal told the UAE delegation which visited him in Taif in July 1972 that Saudi Arabia had been humiliated in Buraimi and that it would have to retrieve its rights, vowing that it would not abandon property inherited from fathers and grandfathers. Sheikh Zayed was more eager for a settlement but Saudi Arabia's demand was unrealistic as it claimed the annexation of extensive lands in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi some of which contained a number of oil fields.[3]
On 21 August 1974, an agreement in the form of Treaty of Jeddah (1974) was settled between Sheikh Zayed and King Faisal on the demarcation of the frontiers between the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia immediately declared recognition of the United Arab Emirates, sent its ambassador, and promoted its liaison office in Dubai into a consulate.[3]
Rise of Mohammed bin Salman
During the 2013–14 period, according to the New York Times, the United Arab Emirates reportedly hired the NSO Group, an Israeli cyber intelligence firm, to intercept the calls of Saudi Prince Mutaib bin Abdullah, then-minister of the National Guard, who was considered a contender for the Saudi throne at the time.[4]
During 2015, the United Arab Emirates hired lobbyists in the United States to promote then Saudi defense minister Mohammed bin Salman.[5] In late 2015, Muhammad bin Nayef, then crown prince of Saudi Arabia, criticised Emirati lobbying in the United States, warning King Salman in a letter that Saudi Arabia faced a "dangerous conspiracy". He wrote to King Salman that “An Emirati plot has been exposed to help aggravate the differences within the royal court.” He also wrote “Bin Zayed is currently planning to use his strong relationship with the United States President to achieve his intentions.”[5]
In hacked emails of UAE ambassador to the United States, Yousef Al Otaiba, dated to 2015 former CIA Director David Petraeus asked Al Otaiba if Muhammad bin Nayef still wielded influence, to which Otaiba replied, "MBS is definitely more active on most day to day issues. MBN seems a little off his game lately." In a separate email dated 2008, Al Otaiba described Saudi leadership to his wife as "f***in' coo coo!" over the Saudi religious police's 2008 decision to ban red roses on Valentine's Day.[6] Another leaked email dated 21 May 2017, Otaiba noted: "Abu Dhabi fought 200 years of wars with Saudi over Wahhabism. We have more bad history with Saudi than anyone. But with Mohammed bin Salman we see a genuine change. And that's why we're excited. We finally see hope there and we need it to succeed."[6] Otaiba received criticism in August 2017 from Saudi royals aligned with Muhammad bin Nayef after he claimed that the UAE and Saudi Arabia both desired more secular government in the Middle East which they saw as an implicit criticism of the Saudi status quo.[7]
The relations between Saudi Arabia and UAE have strengthened significantly with the rise of Mohammed bin Salman as Crown prince of Saudi Arabia, with Mohammed bin Zayed being described by media as aiding his ascension to crown prince and serving as a "mentor" to Mohammed bin Salman.[5][8]
The United Arab Emirates joined Saudi Arabia for the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen against the Houthis.[9] Despite their alliance, there have been differences between the Saudi and Emirati approach to Yemen, such as the UAE's support for the separatists of the Southern Transitional Council and opposition to Al-Islah.[10][11]
In July 2019, the UAE withdrew its forces from the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen following reported disagreements over the prospects of military victory, Emirati opposition to Islamist militias in northern Yemen, and Saudi support for Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi.[12][13]
The UAE joined Saudi Arabia in the Saudi led coalition of severing ties with Qatar due to Qatar's alleged support for terrorism in 2017, causing the Qatar diplomatic crisis.[14][15]
In May 2017, an unnamed source alleged that Saudi Arabia and UAE planned a joint Saudi-UAE invasion of Qatar which was ultimately abandoned due to opposition by the United States.[5][16]
Saudi Arabia has stayed silent on the issue of 2020 agreement establishing relations between Israel and UAE in exchange for Israel to halt annexation of the West Bank.[18] The agreement appeared at odds with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which was spearheaded by Saudi Arabia, and would have required Israel to withdraw from all occupied territories in exchange for normal relations with Arab states.[19]
2021 OPEC dispute
In July 2021 OPEC meetings, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates had disputed over oil production limits as UAE wanted monetize its natural resources as quickly as possible to help drive the transition away from fossil fuels.[20] Saudi Arabia and the UAE later settled the difference with a compromise to unlock more oil supply.[21]
In July 2023, Wall Street Journal reported that Saudi Arabia had threatened UAE with diplmatic repercussions in December 2022 over disagreements regarding UAE divergence in Yemen policy and OPEC limits, with Mohammed bin Salman reportedly gathering journalists in a meeting and claiming the UAE "stabbed us in the back". The UAE was allegedly frustrated at Saudi efforts to raise the global price of oil. Both Saudi Arabia and UAE denied strained relations.[22][23]
Saudi Arabia and the UAE are both heavily investing in AI and semiconductor sectors, with significant contributions from regional banks and state-backed investors.[25]
In August 2009 Saudi authorities prevented Emirati nationals from entering their territory using ID cards that showed a map including territory currently administered by Saudi Arabia. The UAE responded by claiming that the 1974 agreement was never ratified.[26]
