The Saudi-UAE split is ending. That may be bad news for Yemen.

According to Responsible Statecraft, both countries have signaled a willingness to compartmentalize their disputes.[1] The outlet reports that Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed on October 18, and that bin Salman praised the "historical relations between our two brotherly countries."[1]Responsible Statecraft says the official readout did not announce a Yemen military agreement[1].Responsible Statecraft describes this as an effort to put aside the December 2025 rupture, when UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) forces capture large parts of the Hadramawt and al-Mahra provinces bordering Saudi Arabia.[1]The House of Commons Library reports that the UAE withdrew most of its forces in 2020 and the remainder in January 2026 following the failed STC action.[2] The Library also says that since mid-2026, the Houthi-Saudi conflict has also been renewed[2].According to Responsible Statecraft, Abu Dhabi may prefer to limit itself to backing local anti-Houthi factions because of the Houthis' markedly improved strike capabilities.[1] It argues that agreement on confronting the Houthis therefore does not necessarily extend to agreement on which Yemeni actors should be empowered.[1]