Saudi Defence Minister Invites UAE Vice President for Riyadh Visit
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — WEB DESK: Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has invited UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Saudi Arabia, in a closely watched diplomatic development following strains between the two Gulf powers over Yemen.
The official Saudi Press Agency confirmed that Prince Khalid extended the invitation to Sheikh Mansour, who also serves as the UAE’s deputy prime minister and chairman of the Presidential Court. The visit was scheduled for Tuesday, September 29.
The UAE’s state news agency confirmed that Sheikh Mansour would travel to Saudi Arabia for what it described as a “fraternal visit.” Neither side initially announced a detailed agenda for the trip.
The engagement has attracted attention because relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE have faced visible strains over regional policy, particularly Yemen. Reuters reported that Riyadh had accused Abu Dhabi of backing southern Yemeni separatists in ways Saudi Arabia viewed as threatening its national security. The UAE subsequently withdrew from Yemen.
Despite those differences, officials from both countries have more recently emphasised their longstanding ties. Public messages from senior Saudi and Emirati figures in July were widely viewed as indications that the two sides were seeking to ease tensions.
The latest outreach also comes during a difficult regional security period for Saudi Arabia, which has faced repeated attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement. Riyadh has been seeking international support as the conflict places additional pressure on Saudi security and regional shipping.
However, there has been no official confirmation that Sheikh Mansour’s visit is intended to restore military cooperation over Yemen. Reuters reported that it remained unclear whether Riyadh was seeking renewed Emirati military involvement as part of its response to the Houthi threat.
The meeting therefore carries significance beyond routine bilateral diplomacy. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are two of the Gulf’s most influential political and economic powers, and their level of coordination can affect regional issues ranging from Yemen and Red Sea security to energy policy and wider Middle East diplomacy.
Official statements so far have characterised the trip as a fraternal visit rather than announcing specific negotiations or agreements. Any concrete outcome will depend on statements released following the talks.
