Saudi charges against the Emirates, a move of its kind in bilateral relations

Relations between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates have been volatile over the past decade and have seen many ups and downs. In the conflicts of 2011 in Syria, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen, the two countries had the same and very close policies. The peak of the collaboration between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi was in the two conflicts in Syria and Yemen. In the Syrian crisis, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi took action against the country's government and supported rebel and terrorist groups such as Daesh and Jabhatu Nusra.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia took a joint position to defend and want to keep the government of Ali Abdullah Saleh in power in Yemen, and since 2015, the UAE was the most important partner of Saudi Arabia in the war against Yemen. However, the same Yemen has become a field of error and discord between the two countries, as the UAE decided to take an independent policy and increase its influence and even occupy the land of Yemen. In other words, in recent years, the UAE has tried to challenge Saudi Arabia in regional competitions.

A few days ago, the British newspaper The Telegraph published an article about the rift between Mohammed bin Salman and Mohammed bin Zayed, which marked the end of the friendly relationship that existed between the two, which was said to be "the greatest in the Middle East".

The Wall Street Journal also wrote in its report that bin Salman has not spoken to bin Zayed for a long time, and that Mohammed bin Salman threatened to encircle the UAE during a press conference in Riyadh, similar to the encirclement that the Persian Gulf countries imposed on it. Qatar in 2017. He said that: "Bin Zayed stabbed us in the back (betrayed us) and in the future they will see what I will do."

Now it seems that a new round of tensions and errors has begun between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi which is related to the borders of the two countries. In a letter sent to the United Nations, Riyadh has accused Abu Dhabi of crossing the borders and entering Saudi Arabia because in 2019 the UAE declared the Al Yasat area a protected marine area.

According to Arabi 21, in this complaint, Saudi Arabia has emphasized that it does not recognize Abu Dhabi's action and that according to the agreement between the two parties in 1974 which according to international law binds the two countries, it continues to recognize all its rights and interests.

On the other hand, the UAE wants to complete the implementation of Article 5 of the Agreement on Determining Land and Sea Boundaries between the two countries of 1974.

In addition to its historical and cultural importance, the Al Yasat area has ecological importance, as it has a sensitive habitat of coral reefs, seaweed, and sandy beaches.

Talking about this issue of a new discrepancy between Saudi Arabia and Riyadh, an Algerian media has mentioned the Riyadh government's accusations against the UAE as "the end of the honeymoon between the two countries".

Ala kulli hal, the growing difference between Saudi Arabia and the Emirates is something that was expected, because in recent years, Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne of Saudi Arabia, has come out from under the shadow of the President of the UAE, Mohammed bin Zayed and to further demonstrate the greedy behavior and desire to be the leader of the Arab world.