Islam Times - ‘Saudi Arabia, Qatar in rivalry over Yemen’s oil’

Islam Times - A political analyst says Yemen is emerging as an arena in the energy-driven confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as Riyadh and Doha are seeking to tap into crude oil reserves in the impoverished country.

The commentator, who requested anonymity, said that the Qatari government has an objective alliance with Yemen’s Muslim Brotherhood and provides financial aid to the group.

The Muslim Brotherhood will in return assist al-Qaeda militants in Yemen’s eastern province of Hadhramaut, the commentator stated, adding that Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, has thrown its weight behind remnants of the regime of ousted Yemeni dictator Ali Abdullah Saleh in order to establish its influence in the region, and pump out Yemen’s oil.

Pundits agree that a schism is slowly emerging between Saudi Arabia and Qatar in the wake of their attempts to play a more influential role in the Middle East.

Qatar’s relations with the Muslim Brotherhood are multi-faceted. Middle East scholar Alain Gresh says Doha has dedicated al-Jazeera news network to the service of the Muslim Brotherhood, and turned it into what many scholars call a “mouthpiece for the Brotherhood.”

Qatar has also been very generous with the income from its gas wealth, and transferred billions of dollars to the Muslim Brotherhood.

Saudi Arabia has however been opposing the Muslim Brotherhood.

Saudis accuse the Muslim Brotherhood of “betraying” the kingdom after it hosted their members, who were persecuted under former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser.