Saudi Arabia and UAE cross-border trade faces delays amid tensions: Report

Saudi Arabia and UAE cross-border trade faces delays amid tensions: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:08 Days long wait times comes as reports say Saudi Arabia is delaying bank transfers to UAE Trucks carrying goods wait to cross into Qatar from the Salwa border-crossing in eastern Saudi Arabia, about 540 kilometres east of Riyadh, on 15 March 2026 (Fayez Nureldine/AFP) Off Cross-border trade between the UAE and Saudi Arabia is facing delays, in a sign that tensions between the Gulf neighbours are rippling through the business world. Semafor reported on Thursday that delays at the border crossing from the UAE into Saudi Arabia are lasting “several days”. The report said that delays have been worsening in recent months, with some truck drivers forced to sleep under their trailers for as long as a week while they wait for approval to cross.