Ethiopia’s Tigray war: Where do the UAE and Saudi Arabia stand?
Summary
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) supports Ethiopia’s federal government in the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region, calling for peace and protection of civilians. Saudi Arabia has a history of trying to mediate in regional conflicts but has not publicly commented on the recent fighting, while both countries have strategic interests in the Horn of Africa.Key Facts
- The UAE condemned attacks by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and supports Ethiopia’s federal government.
- UAE called for an end to violence, protection of civilians, and respect for the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.
- UAE has commercial interests in the region, including managing Berbera port in Somaliland and a shipping route to Ethiopia.
- Ethiopia depends on Djibouti’s port for trade, being landlocked since Eritrea’s independence in 1993.
- Saudi Arabia has not publicly spoken about the new Tigray fighting but has tried to mediate Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions before.
- In 2025, Saudi Arabia reportedly offered to mediate between Ethiopia and Eritrea but prior efforts failed over disagreements about port access.
- Saudi Arabia is believed to support Eritrea and Egypt in opposition to Ethiopia’s ambitions for Red Sea access.
- Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia have strategic and economic interests in the Horn of Africa, influencing their roles in the conflict.
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