The Houthis Bring Abu Dhabi and Riyadh Closer

The News:

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, called on October 12 for reviving joint Gulf action on security and defense, stressing that targeting Saudi Arabia undermines the security of the UAE and the entire Gulf. His remarks followed a Houthi strike on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh on October 10 that killed 13 people and injured more than 300.

Background:

Gargash's call follows a series of Houthi attacks on the Riyadh and Abha airports and on Saudi facilities and ships in the Red Sea. Despite the deep rift between the two countries over Yemen last year, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed's visit to Riyadh on September 29 and his meeting with the crown prince and the defense minister marked the first Emirati-Saudi meeting at that level since the dispute.

Causes:

Emirati concern is growing that Houthi attacks could become a permanent threat to Gulf security, given the group's ability to strike airports and critical facilities, endangering investor confidence and economic diversification plans. Abu Dhabi also seeks to prevent its dispute with Riyadh from being exploited to weaken the anti-Houthi front. The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington suggests the thaw aims at better coordination in managing forces deployed against the Houthis, and that the UAE may exert influence through its local networks without returning its forces to Yemen.

Implications:

The attacks may push Gulf states to review joint defense mechanisms. But coordination in Yemen will run up against the dispute over the south: unconfirmed reports speak of Abu Dhabi conditioning its participation in the war on regaining administration of the southern governorates, of Saudi rejection for fear of losing its remaining Yemeni cards, and of Emirati funding for moves to bring Aidarous al-Zubaidi back to the fore. Regionally, the widening attacks on sea lanes raise insurance and shipping costs and pass the confrontation's impact on to commodity prices.

Why It Matters for the United States:

The attacks confront Washington with a hard equation between supporting Riyadh and avoiding a new war with an Iranian ally. President Trump's statement on October 10 that the United States is considering joining Saudi strikes against the Houthis signals that the room for U.S. neutrality is shrinking. Stronger joint Gulf defense could allow burden-sharing and reduce the need for direct intervention, but it could increase pressure on Washington if attacks escalate. The announced Houthi-U.S. understanding remains fragile, since the group's moves usually follow Iranian calculations. The most likely path is pragmatic security rapprochement rather than full strategic reconciliation: the two countries will cooperate to protect facilities and shipping, but disputes over the future of southern Yemen and the distribution of influence, along with Sudan and broader regional relations, will persist.