In recent months, a growing rift has emerged between two of the Middle East’s powerhouses: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. What began as an escalation in Yemen rapidly evolved into a broader diplomatic and political crisis between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi. Yet the divide extends far beyond Yemen, revealing a deeper geopolitical competition unfolding across the Middle East, Africa, and the Red Sea. How did this rift emerge? And what consequences might it hold for the region?

In this second episode of MED Insights, Nicola Missaglia - Curator of the MED and Head of Communications and Publishing at ISPI - speaks with Firas Maksad, Managing Director, Middle East & North Africa at Eurasia Group and Eleonora Ardemagni, Senior Associate Reaseach Fellow at ISPI.

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GUID: Buzzsprout-18760380

Erscheinungs­datum: 27.2.2026, 12:00:00