Saudi–UAE Rivalry Deepens, MBS Expected to Ask Trump to Pressure MBZ Over Sudan
A deepening regional rivalry will shape the Washington meeting, as Riyadh uses Abu Dhabi’s RSF involvement to seek stronger US pressure
United States, PUREWILAYAH.COM - Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) is expected to raise concerns with US President Donald Trump over the United Arab Emirates’ support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to a report by Middle East Eye.
The anticipated discussion highlights the widening rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as both states push competing agendas in Sudan’s civil war.
The development follows a recent phone call between MBS and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
According to a Sudanese source briefed on the call, Burhan told MBS that the conflict could not be resolved without US pressure on the UAE, which has been repeatedly accused of backing the RSF. The crown prince reportedly assured Burhan he would raise the issue directly during his upcoming White House meeting.
Abu Dhabi’s Support for RSF at Center of Friction
Throughout the war, the UAE has allegedly supplied the RSF through networks spanning southeastern Libya, Chad, and increasingly Somalia’s Bosaso port.
Abu Dhabi denies the claims, but the reports point to logistics routes, arms transfers, and even Emirati bases inside Sudan linked to RSF operations.
The rivalry has begun spilling into the information sphere:
Analysts monitoring the conflict report an information war between Saudi- and UAE-aligned accounts.
UAE-linked networks reportedly seek to discredit journalists reporting RSF atrocities.
Saudi-linked networks amplify the same reports, positioning the RSF as responsible for massacres and widespread abuses.
A regional diplomat said Abu Dhabi is anticipating pressure from Washington as a result of the crown prince’s intervention.
Saudi–UAE Alliance Frays Over Sudan
Saudi Arabia and the UAE—once aligned on issues from Yemen to the blockade of Qatar—have increasingly diverged on regional conflicts. Diplomats say their cooperation in Yemen has eroded, with the UAE backing southern separatists while Saudi Arabia supports the internationally recognised government.
Both countries maintain close ties with Washington, yet their policy differences have grown more visible, particularly as Riyadh has sought de-escalation with the Ansarallah and reoriented its regional posture after years of costly conflict.
Sudan’s proximity to Saudi Arabia across the Red Sea has heightened Riyadh’s interest in shaping the outcome of the war, while the UAE has taken a more assertive role on the ground through its alleged support for the RSF.
Egypt and Turkey—both close US partners—have increased military support for the Sudanese army, placing Abu Dhabi at odds with an emerging regional consensus.
UAE’s Deepening Involvement in Sudan: Weapons, Bases, and Supply Lines
Reports by Middle East Eye have documented alleged UAE arms transfers to the RSF through networks spanning Libya, Chad, Uganda, and Somalia. Additional reports identified two Emirati military facilities inside Sudan.
Sudan’s war erupted in April 2023 after long-standing tensions between the SAF, led by Burhan, and the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), escalated into open conflict. Hemedti, a former Janjaweed commander, is considered a close ally of the UAE.
During his call with MBS, Burhan reportedly described the RSF as a “killing machine” and claimed it could not have operated at such scale without UAE support. He outlined atrocities across the country, including mass killings in Darfur, though the SAF itself has also been accused of war crimes.
The RSF’s takeover of El-Fasher in North Darfur — accompanied by mass killings, sexual violence, and destruction — has intensified urgency over the conflict.
Tens of thousands have been killed and at least 13 million displaced since the war began in April 2023.
Washington Meeting Comes Amid Broader Regional Stakes
Despite expectations that Sudan will not be the primary topic of the White House meeting — where arms deals, AI cooperation, and nuclear technology are likely to dominate — MBS is still expected to lobby Trump to apply pressure on MBZ over his government’s Sudan policy.
The move underscores both The deepening Saudi–UAE rivalry, and The degree to which US decision-making continues to shape regional conflicts. (PW)