The United Arab Emirates is experiencing worsening relations with several neighboring and regional states due to its involvement in multiple conflicts and shifting alliances. Tensions have risen with Saudi Arabia over Yemen, where Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of supporting separatists and smuggling weapons, and with Somalia, which canceled security and port agreements citing violations of sovereignty. Sudan has also accused the UAE of aiding the Rapid Support Forces in the Darfur conflict, though the International Court of Justice dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction.

Relations with Algeria have deteriorated after Algiers accused the UAE of interference and supporting separatist groups, while disputes over Libya and the Sahel region have added strain. Despite these frictions, the UAE maintains strong economic ties with Iran and Israel, expanding trade even amid regional wars. Abu Dhabi’s normalization with Israel under the Abraham Accords and its outreach to Syria’s Bashar al-Assad have further reshaped its regional posture.

The report highlights how the UAE’s foreign policy has shifted from Sheikh Zayed’s conciliatory diplomacy to assertive engagement since the Arab Spring, prioritizing counter-Islamist and security-driven strategies across the Middle East and North Africa.