The UAE has publicly backed Ethiopia’s federal government in the renewed Tigray fighting, while Saudi Arabia has kept its position on the latest violence unclear. Both states have interests in Red Sea and Horn of Africa stability, but their influence is uncertain.
01Summary
- 01On 25 September, the UAE condemned TPLF attacks on Ethiopian federal forces, airport seizures in Tigray and fighting in Afar and Amhara.
- 02Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan said the UAE backed Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and called for an end to hostilities.
- 03Saudi Arabia has not publicly announced a position on the latest fighting in Tigray, according to an 1 October analysis by Critical Threats.
- 04Riyadh previously helped broker an Ethiopia-Eritrea rapprochement and was reported to have offered mediation in 2025.
- 05The text says the UAE’s trade links, including DP World’s Berbera port operation and a 2025 shipping route to Jebel Ali, show its interest in regional stability but do not prove it can shape the conflict.
02Why it matters
The fighting could affect the Horn of Africa, Red Sea shipping and Ethiopia’s access to trade routes. Gulf states have economic and diplomatic ties in the region, but the story says their ability to halt the war is unclear.
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