Egypt and Saudi Arabia said they share identical positions on pursuing peaceful, state-led solutions in Yemen and Sudan, emphasising respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. The announcement came during Cairo talks and singled out Yemen, Sudan, Somalia and the Gaza Strip. The developments follow rising tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi — notably over competing backers in Yemen — as Saudi Arabia seeks to convene an inclusive conference for southern Yemeni groups and an STC delegation prepares to visit Riyadh.
Egypt Aligns With Saudi Arabia On Yemen And Sudan Amid Growing Saudi–UAE Rift
Sudan's military chief General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan is greeted by troops in Khartoum in March 2025 [File: AP]
Egypt has said it shares an “identical” position with Saudi Arabia on resolving the conflicts in Yemen and Sudan, underscoring a push for peaceful, state-led settlements as regional tensions rise.
During talks in Cairo on Monday, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud reaffirmed what an Egyptian presidency statement described as their countries’ shared commitment to “reaching peaceful solutions to the region’s crises.” The statement stressed that any outcome must “preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” and explicitly named Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and the Gaza Strip.
Yemen: The two Gulf heavyweight states have backed rival actors within Yemen’s fractured, internationally recognised government, united mainly by opposition to the Iran-backed Houthi movement. Tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi rose in December after the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) seized two strategic provinces, a development that reportedly angered Saudi leaders. Reuters said two unnamed sources confirmed an STC delegation led by Aidarous al-Zubaidi will visit Saudi Arabia after Riyadh called for dialogue to ease recent military escalations.
El-Sisi welcomed Saudi plans to host an “inclusive conference” for southern Yemeni groups. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty urged de-escalation and a Yemeni-led political settlement, signalling Cairo’s support for Riyadh’s mediation role.
Sudan: Egypt and Saudi Arabia back Sudan’s de facto ruling authorities, while the UAE has been accused of supporting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), deepening the regional divide and complicating efforts at stabilization.
Horn Of Africa And Wider Rivalry: Competition between Saudi Arabia and the UAE has extended into the Horn of Africa, a region critical to international shipping lanes and geopolitical influence. Saudi Arabia has moved to strengthen ties with Somalia’s federal government, while the UAE has cultivated closer relations with Ethiopia and Somaliland, the self-declared republic that broke away from Somalia in 1991. Israel’s recent decision to recognise Somaliland — welcomed by some in Abu Dhabi and criticised in Riyadh — has added another layer of sensitivity to the rivalry.
Egypt framed the discussions as part of a broader push for peaceful, diplomatic solutions that respect state sovereignty and territorial integrity, even as competing Gulf strategies continue to shape volatile theatres from Yemen to Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
What Happens Next: A planned STC visit to Saudi Arabia and Riyadh’s call for an inclusive Yemeni conference could be early tests of whether the two Gulf powers can find common ground through diplomacy — or whether competition will continue to split regional alignments.
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