Gulf solidarity against Iran’s attacks

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has moved swiftly to reaffirm its full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following a wave of Iranian attacks that targeted several Gulf and Middle Eastern states. In a series of high-level phone calls, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (also referred to as MbS) underscored the Kingdom’s readiness to stand by its neighbors, placing all its capabilities at their disposal to counter what Riyadh described as blatant violations of sovereignty and international law.

The outreach, which included conversations with Mohammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan (also referred to as MbZ), as well as the leaders of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, comes at a sensitive moment in Gulf politics. In recent years, subtle tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have surfaced over regional files ranging from Yemen and Sudan to economic competition linked to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda. Yet the latest crisis has highlighted renewed stress on solidarity and collective security in the face of external threats.

A high-level call amid escalation

According to official statements, Prince Mohammad bin Salman telephoned Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed to discuss the “blatant Iranian attacks” that struck the UAE and other sisterly nations. The Saudi Crown Prince strongly condemned the strikes and affirmed the Kingdom’s full solidarity with the UAE, expressing readiness to support any measures taken to safeguard Emirati sovereignty.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed conveyed appreciation for what he described as the Kingdom’s firm and fraternal stance. Both leaders warned that continued violations of state sovereignty represent a dangerous escalation threatening regional stability. They called for restraint and highlighted the importance of diplomatic solutions to preserve security in the Gulf and beyond.

The Saudi Crown Prince’s outreach extended beyond Abu Dhabi. In separate calls with the leaders of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, he reiterated Riyadh’s unwavering support and its willingness to deploy resources in defense of regional partners. In his conversation with Kuwait’s emir, Prince Mohammad reportedly described the aggression as a “flagrant violation” of sovereignty, airspace, international law and the United Nations (UN) Charter.

Iranian attacks and a catalyst for rapprochement

The Iranian strikes appear to have served as a catalyst for reinforcing Gulf unity at a time when internal differences had occasionally come to the fore. While Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have remained close strategic partners for over a decade, diverging tactical priorities and perspectives in certain regional conflicts have led observers to speak of a cooling in what was once described as a near-seamless alliance.

In this context, Tehran’s actions have underscored the continued prominence of shared security concerns and mutual fate. KSA and the UAE, alongside other Gulf states, sit astride some of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab. Instability in these corridors has global implications for energy markets and trade flows.

By affirming solidarity not only with the UAE but also with Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan, Riyadh has signaled that collective deterrence remains central to its regional approach. The message is twofold: external aggression will not be met with fragmentation, and longstanding partnerships retain strategic depth despite policy disagreements.

Background to recent KSA-UAE tensions

To understand the significance of this renewed alignment, it is important to acknowledge the backdrop of recent friction between the Gulf’s 2 largest Arab economies.

A decade ago, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were closely aligned in confronting what they viewed as common threats: political Islam, Iranian expansionism, and the upheavals unleashed by the Arab Spring. They jointly intervened in Yemen in 2015 and led a blockade of Qatar in 2017.

However, as the regional landscape evolved, their priorities began to diverge and both sides began supporting opposing parties. Saudi Arabia, under Prince Mohammad’s Vision 2030 program, shifted toward a foreign policy recalibrated around economic transformation and domestic modernization. Stability became a prerequisite for attracting foreign investment and tourism. In parallel, Riyadh pursued rapprochement with former adversaries, including Iran.

The UAE, meanwhile, continued to assert a more activist regional posture, particularly in Yemen, Sudan and parts of the Horn of Africa. Abu Dhabi framed its approach as part of a broader strategy to counter extremism and project responsible leadership, while Riyadh grew increasingly concerned about instability near its borders.

Economic competition has also intensified. As Saudi Arabia seeks to position itself as a regional hub for finance, logistics and technology, it inevitably overlaps with sectors long dominated by the UAE. Measures requiring multinational firms to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom to secure government contracts were widely interpreted as part of this competitive dynamic.

Yet despite these differences, both governments have been careful to avoid open confrontation. The current crisis has demonstrated that when confronted with a direct external threat, shared security imperatives quickly eclipse rivalry.

In conclusion, the latest Iranian attacks have tested regional stability. Yet they have also prompted a visible reaffirmation of solidarity between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In an era marked by shifting alliances and intensifying geopolitical competition, the Saudi-UAE partnership continues to adapt. The current moment may well reinforce the fact that in the face of shared threats, Gulf cohesion remains a decisive factor shaping the region’s future.