Saudi Arabia submits an official complaint to the United Nations against the UAE
Saudi Arabia filed a complaint with the United Nations against the UAE regarding Abu Dhabi’s declaration of the al Yasat area as a marine protected area.
In a letter addressed to the United Nations, Riyadh accused Abu Dhabi of encroaching on the Kingdom’s borders, through the UAE authorities issuing an Emiri decree in 2019, declaring al Yasat a protected marine area.
The complaint includes a verbal memorandum dated March 18, addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations from the Saudi Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Saudi Arabia confirmed its rejection of this declaration, and that it doesn’t count, doesn’t recognize it, and doesn’t recognize any legal effect for it, indicating that it adheres to all its rights and interests, in accordance with the agreement concluded between the two countries in the year 1974, which is binding on the two countries in accordance with international law.
The complaint indicated that Saudi Arabia doesn’t recognize any measures or practices taken, or their consequences, by the UAE government in the area off the Saudi coast, the al Yasat area, including KSA’s territorial sea and the area of joint sovereignty on the two islands of Makasib.
The UAE on the other hand, demanded the completion of implementation of Article Five of the agreement demarcating the land and sea borders dated between the two countries in 1974.
Riyadh considered the memorandum official, and also called on the United Nations to circulate it to the members of the United Nations, according to established procedures.
According to the official Emirati news agency, previously indicated that the al Yasat area was established by an Emiri decree in 2005, based on the directives of Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan, the late President of the Emirates.
Al Yasat is a site of environmental importance, providing sensitive habitats of coral reefs, sea grasses and sandy beaches, in addition to its historical and cultural importance.
The Business Department of the President at the time, Khalifa bin Zayed, after the issuance of Emiri Decree No. 33 of 2005 declaring the al Yasat area a marine reserve, created the first artificial reef around al Yasat Island to plant coral and collect different types of fish to restore life to the depths of the sea.
While Saudi Arabia doesn’t recognize the region’s affiliation with the Emirates, and there has been a border dispute over it for many years, it considers it an area of joint sovereignty.
It rejects all actions and practices taken by the UAE government in the region off the Saudi coast, including the KSA’s territorial sea and the area of joint sovereignty.
