The UAE Vice President met with the Saudi Defence Minister in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional developments, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen. This meeting follows a trip by a senior UAE official to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, which was the first such visit since a rift developed between the two countries last year. The discussions focus on regional developments, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen between Iran-aligned forces and the kingdom.
Key points
The UAE Vice President met with the Saudi Defence Minister in Abu Dhabi to discuss region…: The UAE Vice President met with the Saudi Defence Minister in Abu Dhabi to discuss regional developments.
This meeting follows a trip by a senior UAE official to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, w…: This meeting follows a trip by a senior UAE official to Saudi Arabia earlier this year, which was the first such visit since a rift developed between the two countries last year.
The discussions focus on regional developments, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen b…: The discussions focus on regional developments, including the ongoing conflict in Yemen between Iran-aligned forces and the kingdom.
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UAE vice president discusses regional developments with Saudi minister in Abu Dhabi, WAM reports
18 October 2026 17:11 BST
UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed developments in the Middle East with Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman during a visit by the Saudi minister to Abu Dhabi, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported on Sunday.
The talks came a few weeks after Sheikh Mansour visited Riyadh, the first trip by a senior UAE official to the kingdom since a deep rift emerged between the two Gulf powers last year.
The visit comes as Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis intensify attacks on the kingdom.
The protests are also fueled by the rise of far-right parties, which are exploiting fears of immigration and identity crisis. The violence seen in some protests is a product of the tensions and frustrations that have built up over time.
In a single day, Saudi forces carried out 110 attacks on Yemen, targeting several governorates, including Sanaa, Hodeidah, Taiz, and others. The Houthis reported over 30 casualties, including women and children. This escalation follows 2,652 strikes by the Saudi-led coalition since the start of the conflict.
For the 31st time as secretary of state, Marco Rubio has left on a trip abroad, heading to Uzbekistan and later India. Some wonder if Rubio is keeping the most pressing matters at a distance, as he has been unapologetic about his role as both President Donald Trump's chief diplomat and national security adviser. However, it has only tangential links to the Trump administration's main foreign policy dilemmas in the Middle East and with the Russia-Ukraine war.