Elsewhere, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi had long backed opposing sides in Sudan’s civil war but somehow managed their competition. Elsewhere, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi had long backed opposing sides in Sudan’s civil war but somehow managed their competition. Riyadh also pressured Somalia to throw out the Emirati military and cancel all its existing financial contracts with Abu Dhabi. Saudi Arabia has traditionally been a status quo power that stresses stability above all else. Within the Gulf microsystem, Saudi Arabia is a hegemon, which bakes in a pro-status quo proclivity.