UAE-Saudi rift over security threats push Arab mediators to act

Bahrain and Egypt are attempting to mend ties between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, two sources said, weeks into a diplomatic rift between the Arab world’s most powerful countries.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE had a public falling out in December, when the kingdom accused its neighbour of threatening its national security by supporting Yemeni separatists who orchestrated a brief land grab.

A source close to the Saudi government insisted there was “no need for mediation” because direct channels are open between the two countries.

Although Riyadh and Abu Dhabi did not break ties, they have had no high-level diplomatic contact since the last week of December, according to several sources who requested anonymity.

“Bahrain is leading mediation efforts between Saudi and the UAE that aim at ending the ongoing misunderstanding,” said one Gulf official.

The goal, he said, was to “bridge the gap and bring viewpoints closer.”

“It’s a Gulf issue and it should be resolved in the Gulf,” he said, adding that this was a “Bahraini effort, not a GCC effort,” in reference to regional bloc the Gulf Cooperation Council.