The prospects of an Iranian-backed and allied Shia militia taking over Yemen at the tip of the Arabian peninsula was a clear red line for the Kingdom.With army brigades loyal to former Yemeni Ali Abdullah Saleh joining the Houthis in removing the legitimately elected President Abed Rabbo Hadi from power, and attempting to seize major Sunni urban centres such as Aden and Taiz, the Saudi leadership had no alternative other than to act, and act decisively.For example, when Iran-supported insurgents sought to overthrow the government of Bahrain in 2011, the Saudis were quick to spearhead a Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) contingent that moved in to secure critical state infrastructure and preserve the sovereignty of the Bahraini state.Such moves are likely to increase in number beyond the current war in Yemen, especially as the number of weak, failing or failed Arab states facing insurgencies continues to rise.As a result, the Houthis and Saleh-affiliated army brigades have had their sustained fighting capabilities drastically degraded.
All this is happening at a time when the Arab world is going through historical upheavals and changes.Arabs have been starting to move on from their colonial past, one that burdened them with arbitrary national borders that are proving so complicated to maintain.And, as the US and European powers continu their retreat from the region, Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia are increasingly taking responsibility for managing their own affairs.The distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah is more than just a stunning hotel, it is a symbol of modern Dubai.Yet for all the wonder this stunning structure provides when you finally see it in person, it is the service within that really makes the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah so extraordinary.