Saudi and UAE Foreign Ministers Align Positions to Avert Middle East Escalation

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the two diplomats reviewed the latest situation across the region and explored ways to promote de-escalation during their phone conversation. They stressed the need to align positions and intensify consultations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in support of joint Gulf action. The call came as renewed attacks targeted Gulf states, including Houthi strikes on civilian and economic sites in southern Saudi Arabia.

Prince Faisal had told the BRICS summit in New Delhi earlier on Sunday that Saudi Arabia’s national security, territorial integrity and resources were non-negotiable. He warned that GCC states would not tolerate attacks on their territories, facilities or vital interests. The foreign minister also urged a shift from confrontation to diplomatic efforts grounded in respect for sovereignty and non-interference.

The discussions build on recent incidents that have heightened tensions, including drone attacks launched from Iraqi territory against Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Madinah regions. Those strikes injured several people and forced a temporary shutdown of the facility, according to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The UAE condemned the assaults as a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty and reaffirmed its full solidarity with the kingdom.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have faced a series of challenges in recent months, including Houthi threats to blockade Saudi coasts that prompted UAE expressions of full solidarity with Riyadh in July 2026. The two countries have also navigated differences over responses to Iranian actions following the collapse of a US-Iran ceasefire arrangement last month. That breakdown, which followed an April ceasefire and a June Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding, has renewed disputes over freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated that the ministers emphasised safeguarding the security and resources of GCC states through unified positions. Earlier Saudi statements have placed the kingdom’s focus on diplomatic solutions to prevent the conflict from expanding with serious regional and international consequences. The latest call reflects continued coordination between the two largest Gulf economies amid these pressures.