Short note on UAE and Saudi Arabian interests and footprint in Al-Mahra and the “power struggle over the provision of security in the region” between them.
The ongoing war in Yemen has wreaked havoc on much of the country, crumbling centuries old buildings, destroying critical infrastructure and leaving countless civilians dead. Fighting has extended to many corners of the country. Some areas, however, have managed to avoid the brunt of the war, mostly by virtue of their isolation and sparse population rather than a lack of strategic importance.
One such place is Yemen’s easternmost governorate, al-Mahra. Al-Mahra is second only to the governorate of Hadramawt in terms of size and runs the entire length of the border with Oman, from the Arabian Sea to Saudi Arabia’s southern border. Its size and geographic position along the border of both Saudi Arabia and Oman make the governorate a sought-after zone of control not only during the war but also whenever hostilities do subside. As such, al-Mahra is quickly becoming the site of a power struggle over the provision of security in the region, raising further questions as to the longer-term implications surrounding Saudi and Emirati interests and the proliferation of UAE-trained security forces.
Other resources you may be interested in:
Accountability mechanisms in Yemen: Insights from Taiz, Aden, Hadhramawt, and Al Mahra
Analysis of the de jure and de facto state of accountability in Yemen, with case studies on accountability mechanisms in the four governorates of Taiz, Aden, Hadhramawt and Al Mahra.
Hadramawt on Edge: Public Outcry Exposes Governance Crisis
This report analyzes the governance crisis in Hadramawt as widespread protests over electricity and water failures expose deep structural weaknesses in Yemen’s largest governorate. It outlines how fuel shortages and institutional fragmentation have intensified competition among key actors and details how these rival entities shape de‑facto governance across Mukalla and the wider governorate.
Local Service Provision During War: A Case Study of Yemen
This journal article analyzes how conflict has shaped local service delivery across five Yemeni governorates and shows how governance capacity, political stability, resources, and external support, in particular humanitarian aid, effect outcomes. By analyzing how these elements shape local governance capacities, the paper highlights the disparities in service delivery and the challenges faced by local […]
