MbZ 'adviser' Abdulkhaleq Abdalla attacks Wahhabism in apparent escalation of Saudi-UAE rift

A senior adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) has issued a sharp public critique of Wahhabism, the religious doctrine historically associated with Saudi Arabia, highlighting a widening rift between the two Gulf powers.

Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a prominent Emirati academic and retired professor of political science at the United Arab Emirates University, said in a post on X on Tuesday that Wahhabism was resurging at its source and targeting the UAE's model.

"Wahhabism is resurging at its source, now openly targeting the UAE's model of moderation and tolerance," wrote the political scientist, who is often informally referred to in regional media as an adviser to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the country's leader.

"Coordinated rhetoric in social and state-linked media legitimizes extremism and creates space for ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the MB, and anti-Western and antisemitic narratives."

This unusually direct attack on Saudi Arabia's main religious current marks one of the sharpest public criticisms of Riyadh by a figure often linked in media to the Emirati leadership.

It also signals that tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are no longer confined to policy disputes but are increasingly touching on identity and ideology.

The remarks also highlight a doctrinal distinction, as most in the UAE follow the Maliki school of Sunni jurisprudence rather than Saudi Arabia's Hanbali-based Wahhabi tradition.

The Emirati state also promotes a centrally managed and comparatively pluralistic model of Islam under its General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Mecca and Medina, and Wahhabism has historically provided the religious legitimacy underpinning the Saudi state since its 18th-century alliance between cleric Mohammed bin Abdul Wahhab and the ruling Al Saud family.

While Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has sought to reduce the political power of the religious establishment and promote a more nationalist, secular Saudi identity, the doctrine remains symbolically tied to the kingdom's foundations.

The remarks also come amid an intensifying media confrontation, after Saudi-linked outlet Independent Arabia published a cartoon on Monday portraying an Emirati figure dodging arrows labelled with contentious regional files, including Yemen, Somalia and Algeria, in an apparent escalation.

The dispute appears rooted in diverging regional strategies, particularly in Yemen, where Abu Dhabi has backed the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and maintains influence in southern provinces, while Saudi Arabia has pursued its own security and political arrangements.

Emirati media, including Sky News Arabia, recently amplified large rallies in southern Yemen supporting the STC, while reports suggest Saudi forces reinforced positions in Shabwa following clashes.

Beyond Yemen, the rivalry reflects broader competition over regional leadership, economic positioning and relations with Israel.

Although Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have not formally severed ties, no high-level diplomatic contact has reportedly taken place since late December, according to sources cited by AFP.