Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 4.86 — strongly supporting 28 facts
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are regional powers that frequently coordinate on diplomatic, military, and security policies, as evidenced by their joint interventions in Yemen [1], [2], their shared efforts to contain Iranian influence [3], and their collective participation in the Gulf Cooperation Council [4].
Facts (28)
Sources
Opportunities for Collective Regional Security in the Middle East carnegieendowment.org 23 facts
accountSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates countered the rise of Islamist groups by aligning with military and secular elites who opposed those groups throughout the region.
accountFollowing the 2011 uprisings, regional powers including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, and Iran took actions to secure their interests in the unstable environment.
accountTürkiye coordinated with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to pressure the Israeli government to halt military operations and end the war.
claimIran's diplomatic and economic gains achieved between 2020 and 2023, which included restored relations with Saudi Arabia, revitalized trade with the UAE, and emerging dialogues with Egypt and Jordan, have eroded due to wartime strains.
claimThe post-October 2023 conflict has disrupted the regional agendas of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, despite their shared interest with Egypt and Türkiye in conflict resolution.
accountSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates utilized increased oil revenues to enhance their military capabilities, seek protection guarantees from the United States, and diversify their alliances.
claimTürkiye has engaged in successful diplomatic coordination with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt.
claimEgypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye have rejected Israeli plans for displacement, settlement expansion, and the systematic violation of Lebanese sovereignty, while emphasizing the need to protect the Palestinian cause.
claimSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates sought to contain Iranian regional expansion in Bahrain, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
accountThe 2023 diplomatic agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran led to a decrease in military confrontations in Yemen, a partial withdrawal of Saudi and Emirati forces, and a reduction in Houthi aggression against Saudi and Emirati territories.
claimEgypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye have provided humanitarian relief to affected Palestinian and Lebanese populations and coordinated diplomatically to press global powers to intervene in the violence across the Middle East.
claimEgypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Türkiye have collectively called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza and Lebanon and an end to all military operations in the region since October 2023.
accountSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates acquired advanced technological systems from China and modern weapons from Russia to reduce their reliance on Western powers and expand international partnerships.
accountBefore October 7, 2023, regional actors pursued different security strategies: Saudi Arabia sought to ease tensions with Iran, the UAE deepened cooperation with Israel, Egypt prioritized national security, and Türkiye reduced its regional conflict engagement.
claimSaudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar possess the financial and political capital necessary to shape outcomes in Syria and the broader Levant.
claimCurrent regional policies often entangle Middle Eastern states in direct or proxy conflicts, such as Israel’s tensions with Iran, Türkiye’s intervention in Syria and Iraq, and the military involvement of the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in Yemen.
claimSaudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt are increasingly prioritizing diplomacy and nonviolent foreign policies over military involvement in protracted conflicts to address national security concerns.
claimThe United Arab Emirates is exploring collaborations with Saudi Arabia and Egypt to stabilize Syria and the broader Levant region to mitigate risks associated with regional instability.
claimThe feasibility of a collective regional security endeavor involving Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Türkiye, Israel, and Iran depends on overcoming mutual distrust, conflicting strategic goals, and divergent government policies.
claimThe Arab Spring uprisings, occurring between 2011 and 2023, caused radical changes to the foreign policies of six influential regional powers: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Türkiye, Israel, and Iran.
accountIn 2011, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates perceived the Arab Spring uprisings as a destabilizing force, fearing that the resulting chaos would empower political Islam movements and increase Iranian influence, particularly in Bahrain and Yemen.
accountIn 2015, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain launched a military intervention as part of the 'Arab Coalition' to counter the Houthi movement, which led to repeated Houthi attacks on Saudi and Emirati territories until 2023.
claimMiddle Eastern countries including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Türkiye, Israel, and Iran wield significant influence beyond their borders through political, military, economic, and diplomatic domains.
Experts react: How the US war with Iran is playing out around the ... atlanticcouncil.org 3 facts
accountIran expanded the circle of combatants during the conflict by targeting infrastructure in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman.
accountDuring the escalation linked to US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Iranian missiles or projectiles hit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, despite none of these states launching attacks against Iran from their territory.
accountUAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed solidarity, warned against further escalation, and called for restraint and diplomacy following recent regional events.
Escalation in the Middle East and Beyond unocha.org 1 fact
claimIranian strikes have killed or injured civilians, including migrant workers, in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Middle East, including the Palestinian Question, April 2026 ... securitycouncilreport.org 1 fact
measurementUN Security Council resolution 2817 was drafted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) and Jordan, and was co-sponsored by 136 UN member states.