Salman, state media reported—a rare high-level meeting between the two Gulf allies amid a months-long rift over Yemen. Relations soured publicly last December, when Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of threatening its national security by backing southern Yemeni separatists who launched a brief offensive. Tensions had been building for some time, with the two countries pursuing divergent foreign policies across Yemen, Sudan and the Horn of Africa, where they have supported rival forces. Signs of a thaw emerged in July, when top officials from both countries exchanged social media messages about friendship and unity, signaling a rapprochement. Saudi General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh posted a photo of Prince Khalid with Sheikh Mansour from a few days earlier.

The Saudi defense ministry said Prince Khalid had invited ‘his brother’ Sheikh Mansour to visit the kingdom. WAM, the UAE's official news agency, said Sheikh Mansour accepted and would make a ‘brotherly visit’. The Saudi outreach comes as the kingdom struggles with weeks of Houthi attacks on its tankers, oil facilities, airports and even its capital. The Iran-backed group has seized control of the Red Sea coast from Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Riyadh has spent weeks appealing to international allies for help. A source in the office of Yemen's government leader said he had asked US President Donald Trump for American support against the Houthis. The New York Times reported that Saudi Arabia's crown prince also called Trump to plead for help countering the group's advances, though Axios reported Trump rejected a similar request earlier this month. On Friday, military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met to discuss how to support Riyadh as the attacks on the world's top crude exporter intensify. (Bssnews)