Bahrain, Egypt reportedly mediating UAE-Saudi rift

Bahrain and Egypt are attempting to mend ties between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, two sources told AFP news agency, weeks into a diplomatic rift between the Arab world's most powerful countries.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE had a public falling out in December when the kingdom accused its neighbour of threatening its national security by supporting Yemeni separatists who orchestrated a brief land grab.

A source close to the Saudi government insisted there was "no need for mediation" because direct channels are open between the two countries.

Although Riyadh and Abu Dhabi did not break ties, they have had no high-level diplomatic contact since the last week of December, AFP reported- citing several sources.

"Bahrain is leading mediation efforts between Saudi and the UAE that aim at ending the ongoing misunderstanding," said a Gulf official, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The goal, he said, was to "bridge the gap and bring viewpoints closer".

"It's a Gulf issue and it should be resolved in the Gulf," he said, adding that this was a "Bahraini effort, not a GCC effort", in reference to regional bloc the Gulf Cooperation Council.

This week, Bahraini Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.

A regional source in the Gulf, who also requested anonymity to speak on sensitive matters, said Egypt was pursuing efforts to end the rift.

"Egypt is playing a sort of mediating role and conveying messages between Saudi Arabia and the UAE," he said.

On January 5, the Saudi foreign minister met his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Cairo.

The next day, Abdelatty called his Emirati counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed.

Egypt conveyed Saudi messages to the UAE, the source said.

"The Saudi foreign minister discussed in Cairo the details of the crisis with his Egyptian counterpart, who then made calls to his Emirati counterpart," the source added.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain did not respond to the claims.