Egypt passed intelligence on recent Emirati operations in Yemen to Saudi authorities as part of efforts to rebuild strained relations with Riyadh, a senior Egyptian presidential source told Middle East Eye.

The move came amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Egyptian officials viewing Emirati backing of armed and separatist groups in Yemen, Sudan and Somaliland as a growing threat to Egypt’s national security.

“Egypt offered the UAE as a sacrifice to restore Saudi support and preserve national security,” the source said, describing the step as a “carefully planned manoeuvre”.

Saudi Arabia’s partnership in Yemen with the UAE has dramatically unravelled in recent weeks.

Early in January, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on the UAE’s ally in Yemen, the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), in response to its unilateral takeover of key eastern governorates. Saudi-backed forces subsequently advanced, STC control collapsed, and government troops retook Aden and surrounding areas.

Saudi Arabia then accused Abu Dhabi of facilitating the escape of STC leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi from Yemen to the UAE via Somaliland.

On Monday, the Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), the internationally recognised government of Yemen, announced that its forces had retaken full control of the south from the UAE-backed STC.

Middle East Eye reported last week that Aden, the capital the STC had envisioned for a future independent state, is no longer under separatist control. The soldiers now patrolling the city were formerly aligned with the STC but have since defected to support the PLC.

According to the presidential source, Egyptian intelligence and naval units monitored Emirati ship movements in the lead-up to the Saudi operation against the STC in Yemen, using radar and other surveillance systems, and shared coordinates and activity patterns with Saudi authorities.

Cairo also handed over recordings of Emirati officials discussing their objectives in Yemen and coordination with leaders of the STC, the source said.

“Egypt provided recordings showing what the UAE was doing in Yemen, their objectives, and how they were working with southern forces,” the source added.

Egyptian intel

Egyptian officials also briefed Saudi Arabia about what they described as Abu Dhabi’s support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), drawing parallels with Emirati activities in southern Yemen, the source said.

The intelligence-sharing coincided with closer coordination between Cairo and Riyadh, reflected in a visit earlier this month by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to Egypt, where he met Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

‘Egypt provided recordings showing what the UAE was doing in Yemen, their objectives, and how they were working with southern forces’

– Egyptian presidential source

“Egypt and Saudi Arabia agreed to work together on Yemen and Sudan and to closely monitor movements on the ground,” the source said.

Following Farhan’s visit, Riyadh asked Cairo to prepare its naval forces to disrupt potential supply routes from the UAE to southern Yemen.

“Saudi Arabia requested Egyptian naval forces be ready to cut the supply line from the UAE to the STC,” the source said, adding that Egyptian Mistral-class vessels had been deployed further south in the Red Sea to monitor Emirati activity.

The intelligence-sharing drew the ire of Abu Dhabi, a separate Egyptian diplomatic source told MEE.

“Abu Dhabi objected to Egypt intercepting information and passing it to Saudi Arabia,” said the source, asking to remain anonymous. “They warned us not to improve relations with Riyadh at the UAE’s expense.”

The source added: “They emphasised the shared interests between our countries and the need to preserve them, including investments and economic cooperation.”

“We raised our concerns about UAE support to armed groups in Sudan and the impact on regional stability and Egypt’s borders,” the diplomatic source added.

“They stressed that they should protect their interests while maintaining shared security objectives.”

Egypt-Saudi rapprochement

Egypt has so far aligned more closely with Saudi Arabia’s position on preserving Yemeni unity and avoiding fragmentation.

While Cairo has strong ties with both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, Egyptian officials have emphasised the importance of Yemen’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and have called for de-escalation and political dialogue rather than support for secessionist movements.

Prior to the rapprochement on Yemen, Egyptian-Saudi relations had shown signs of strain, with both countries pursuing competing priorities across regional issues, including Yemen, Sudan and Gaza.

But in recent months, Egypt’s Gulf dynamics have been quietly changing.

Officials in Egypt have been viewing Emirati influence, in particular its support for secessionists in the region, as not fully aligned with Egypt’s long-term priorities.

This became clear this month when Egypt’s state-run Holding Company for Maritime and Land Transport rejected an offer by UAE-based Black Caspian Logistics Holding Limited to acquire additional shares in Alexandria Container and Cargo Handling Company, a strategic port operator in which the UAE already holds about 20 percent.

“After the recent rapprochement with Saudi Arabia, Sisi told officials to stop the sale of some assets previously agreed with the UAE, despite earlier approval,” the presidential source said.

Meanwhile, the war in Yemen and its effect on Red Sea security became central to Egypt’s decisions. Attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group on commercial shipping raised costs and threatened the Suez Canal, making the conflict a matter of economic survival.

Egypt’s public stance supports Saudi calls for political solutions while avoiding confrontation with Abu Dhabi.

“Egypt supports Saudi Arabia in Yemen, standing firmly against separatist moves in the south and stressing the importance of Yemen’s unity,” the presidential source said.