Riyadh, 29 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Saudi Arabia’s Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has invited UAE Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit the Kingdom, marking the first public invitation for a face-to-face meeting since tensions emerged between the two countries over Yemen. The Saudi Defence Ministry announced that Prince Khalid extended the invitation to Sheikh Mansour, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Court. The development follows signs of rapprochement in July, when senior officials and ministers from both countries expressed friendship and unity on social media. The thaw comes as Saudi Arabia faces increasing Houthi attacks on its oil facilities, tankers, airports and capital, while the group continues to advance against Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces. Riyadh has been seeking international support to counter the Houthis, with Yemen’s leadership reportedly requesting assistance from US President Donald Trump. Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan have also held military-level talks on supporting the Kingdom amid escalating Houthi attacks. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the UAE deteriorated in December after Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of threatening its national security by supporting southern Yemeni separatists. The two countries have also backed rival forces in Yemen, Sudan and parts of the Horn of Africa. The latest invitation is a potential step toward improving bilateral relations and strengthening cooperation between the two Gulf nations.