Rising Tensions Between Saudi Arabia and UAE Over Control of Yemen's Oil-Rich Hadhramaut

A report by the American magazine Foreign Affairs has revealed the growing rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over control of the oil-rich Hadhramaut province in Yemen.

The detailed Middle East report, titled The Fatal Imbalance in the New Middle East, outlines how tensions between the two powers have deepened, with Saudi Arabia controlling the interior regions of Hadhramaut, while the UAE dominates the coastal areas. The report highlights that clashes between proxies loyal to each side have raised concerns about the potential escalation of violence in the region in the coming months.

The report also pointed out the dramatic depreciation of the Yemeni riyal, which has lost nearly 80% of its value since 2014, leading to soaring poverty rates and worsening living conditions. More than half of Yemen's population lives below the poverty line, and approximately 20 million people require direct humanitarian assistance. Mismanagement and corruption have exacerbated the country's deteriorating economic situation

Yemen is also grappling with internal divisions between the Houthi rebels in the north and the Presidential Council in the south, with Iran backing the Houthis and Saudi Arabia hosting the Presidential Council, which is internally divided, with UAE support for a faction pushing for the separation of the south.

As a result of the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the divisions in Hadhramaut have worsened, leading to more clashes and expectations of rising violence in the future.

Amid this chaos, terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) have been able to expand their influence in eastern and southern Yemen, further destabilizing the country.

On a broader scale, the report points out that the Middle East has been enduring wars and destruction for over fifteen years, with hundreds of thousands of people killed and millions displaced. This prolonged conflict has severely affected sectors like education, health, and infrastructure across the region.

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