Iran Turned the Saudi-UAE Rift Into Its Most Effective Weapon

On May 17, a drone strike targeted the UAE's sole nuclear power plant. A week earlier, another drone strike caused a major fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, injuring three Indian nationals. Abu Dhabi immediately accused Tehran of orchestrating both incidents. Beyond drones and missiles, Iran is apparently pursuing a quieter strategy based on weaponizing an existing Riyadh-Abu Dhabi rift.

The Saudi-Emirati split did not begin with the current war. For more than a decade, beneath the surface of what appeared to be a cohesive alliance, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been competing, quietly, then openly, for regional primacy across several fronts of foreign investment, energy policy, and regional influence.