Pakistan, Feb. 6 -- Some UAE companies have withdrawn from the World Defense Show in Riyadh, scheduled for February 8-12. Sources say the move reflects rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is unclear whether all UAE participants in the country pavilion have pulled out. Neither the UAE foreign ministry nor Saudi government media has commented on the withdrawals.

The decision comes amid a broader Gulf rift that is now affecting business relations. Saudi Arabia and the UAE were once strong allies in regional security and trade. Disagreements have emerged over oil quotas, geopolitical interests, and Yemen. The conflict became public in December after a UAE-backed Houthi advance threatened Saudi borders, prompting a Saudi-led ...