Saudi Arabia and UAE call for closer Gulf coordination in face of Houthi attacks

• Saudi and UAE foreign ministers have condemned Houthi assaults on civilians throughout the Kingdom.
• In parallel, senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Turkey engaged in discussions to tackle regional security challenges and bolster stability.

Updated 5 min 54 sec ago

October 20, 2026 00:09

Riyadh: On Monday, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Republic appealed for enhanced cooperation among Gulf states to curb rising regional tension amid ongoing Houthi offensives on the Kingdom.

The appeal emerged after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al‑Nahyan, condemned recent strikes by the Yemeni militia against civilian facilities in Saudi territory. Officials underscored the urgency of deeper consultative dialogue and joint diplomatic initiatives aimed at reinforcing GCC unity, promoting de‑escalation, and preventing spillover conflicts across the peninsula.

This diplomatic outreach follows a GCC leaders’ gathering in Bahrain, where foreign ministers jointly denounced the series of Houthi attacks, reaffirming their solidarity with Riyadh and asserting collective security commitments.

All six council members declared that any assault on one member poses a threat to the entire bloc, invoking the organization’s mutual‑defence agreement to highlight their shared right to self‑defence.

Prince Faisal later communicated via phone with his Turkish ally Hakan Fidan, stressing that coordinated regional effort remains essential to address emerging security dilemmas and preserve peace.

Earlier, Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman concluded a visit to Abu Dhabi on Sunday, convening with former UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al‑Nahyan to explore bilateral cooperation and broader security frameworks.

The surge of Houthi strikes this month targeted major Saudi infrastructure—including airports, energy facilities, and urban zones—most notably a series of deadly blows against King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. Such operations have disrupted air travel and heightened alarm about regional security as the protracted conflict persists between the Houthi movement and Yemen’s nationally recognised authorities.

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