It is all about phrasing in the New York Times; look at this paragraph

"it has taken a far more muscular approach since the Arab Spring, offering generous support to its allies, like Egypt, while working to oppose adversaries like President Bashar al-Assad of Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood."  Now both Egypt and Syria are led by tyrants but notice that support for Gen. Sisi is phrased as "support for Egypt" to downplay the nature of Saudi support for a tyrant, while its opposition to Bashshar is presented as "opposing Bashshar" and not opposing Syria.  Propaganda at work.