Saudi Arabia has moved to link three key eastern Yemeni governorates to its national electricity grid, a step that analysts say could deepen its influence in a resource-rich and strategically vital region.
Authorities in the Saudi-backed government in Aden confirmed that Riyadh had decided to connect Al-Mahra, Shabwa and Hadramout to its unified grid. The move comes despite earlier Saudi announcements of multimillion-dollar local electricity projects in the same areas.
The three governorates are among Yemen’s main oil- and gas-producing regions and have relatively small populations, leading some observers to question why they require external supply rather than developing domestic capacity.
The decision follows reports that Saudi Arabia has revived plans to build an oil pipeline through eastern Yemen, providing an export route to the Arabian Sea that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy chokepoint.
Saudi Arabia has maintained a military and political presence in parts of eastern Yemen since 2017, particularly in Al-Mahra, where it has overseen ports, border crossings and infrastructure. The latest move appears to extend that influence into the energy sector.
The move has drawn comparisons with earlier Emirati activity in southern Yemen, including in Socotra and Shabwa, where infrastructure and security projects were widely seen by critics as attempts to entrench long-term influence before Abu Dhabi scaled back its presence.
Yemen remains politically fragmented, with authority divided between the Aden-based government, southern forces aligned with the UAE, and other local actors. In this context, large-scale infrastructure integration with Saudi Arabia could shift the balance of influence in eastern regions.
Supporters of the plan may frame it as a development measure aimed at improving electricity supply in underserved areas. However, some are likely to view it as part of a broader Saudi strategy to consolidate control through economic and infrastructure links rather than direct military intervention.
The eastern governorates targeted by the plan are not only rich in hydrocarbons but also occupy a strategic coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, making them significant for regional trade routes and energy transit.
Saudi Arabia has been a central actor in Yemen’s conflict since 2015, when it led a military coalition backing the internationally recognised government against Houthi forces.
The war has been widely described by the UN as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, causing widespread destruction and economic collapse.
While large-scale fighting has eased in recent years, the conflict remains unresolved, and Riyadh continues to exert influence in parts of southern and eastern Yemen.
