Mecca Defence Pact Triggers War of Words Between Saudi Arabia and UAE

The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan has triggered a public war of words between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, exposing growing differences between the two Gulf powers over their security strategies. Signed in Mecca on August 7, the agreement states that an attack on one member will be treated as an attack on all three. The grouping, described by some observers as an “Islamic Nato”, could eventually expand, with Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Azerbaijan and Syria reportedly among countries being considered for closer participation.

The agreement brings together Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan in a new security framework outside the existing Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Saudi Arabia has increasingly strengthened ties with Turkey and Pakistan, while the UAE has expanded strategic and defence cooperation with India and Israel. The differences are also visible in Yemen, where Riyadh has supported the internationally recognised government while Abu Dhabi has backed the southern separatist Southern Transitional Council. Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain allies, their foreign-policy priorities have increasingly diverged in recent years.

The Mecca pact has faced criticism from prominent Emirati voices, who have questioned why Riyadh needed a separate security arrangement when the GCC already has its own collective defence framework. Dubai-based political analyst and former aide to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, argued that strengthening Gulf military and political cooperation should be prioritised. Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaid responded by defending Riyadh’s right to enter security agreements with countries it considers strategically important. Saudi researcher Fahad al-Arabi al-Harthi also said the pact was intended to build collective deterrence and defence capacity rather than target a specific adversary.

Also Read: CM Adhikari Seeks Probe into TMC Veteran's Sudden Death

The Saudi response subsequently shifted attention towards the UAE’s own security partnerships outside the GCC, particularly its ties with India and Israel. Former Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation chief Abdulaziz al-Tuwaijri questioned why Abu Dhabi could maintain defence cooperation with India and broader relations with Israel while criticising Riyadh’s agreement with Turkey and Pakistan. Saudi commentators also referred to the UAE’s 2020 Abraham Accords with Israel, using them to challenge the Emirati criticism of Saudi Arabia’s new security arrangement.

The exchanges have brought India and Israel into what was initially a dispute over Gulf security architecture. India and the UAE have maintained formal defence cooperation since a 2003 memorandum of understanding, expanding it through military exercises, defence exchanges and a Strategic Defence Partnership framework signed in January 2026. The partnership covers areas including military technology, co-production, maritime security and counter-terrorism. However, India does not have a joint defence treaty with the UAE, contrary to claims made by some Saudi commentators. Israel, meanwhile, has developed extensive security cooperation with the UAE since the Abraham Accords.

The public exchanges underline the increasingly distinct strategic approaches being pursued by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, even as both remain important partners within the Gulf region. Riyadh’s decision to deepen defence ties with Turkey and Pakistan has highlighted questions about the future role of the GCC, while Abu Dhabi’s relationships with India and Israel have become part of the counterargument from Saudi voices. Whether the Mecca pact develops into a broader security grouping remains uncertain, but its early fallout has already exposed tensions over how the region’s major powers should build security partnerships and respond to emerging threats.

Also Read: Shehzad Poonawalla Presses BJP to Accept Resignation In Second Letter