According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, the decision to withdraw forces has been taken independently and is linked to a reassessment of counter-terrorism objectives in Yemen. The ministry said the UAE remains committed to Yemen’s sovereignty, stability and the restoration of its internationally recognised government, while denying allegations of supporting separatist groups through military supplies.
The immediate trigger for the diplomatic strain was an incident on Tuesday when a vessel arriving from the UAE’s Fujairah port docked at Mukalla. Saudi Arabia claimed the ship was carrying weapons intended for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a UAE-backed separatist organisation seeking an independent southern Yemen. Riyadh later released footage of the operation and followed up with airstrikes on Mukalla port.
The UAE categorically rejected the allegations. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the consignment contained vehicles meant for Emirati troops stationed in Yemen, not weapons. “The UAE respects Yemen’s sovereignty and is focused on combating terrorism,” the statement said.
The fallout intensified after Yemen’s internationally recognised government cancelled its defence agreement with the UAE. Rashad al-Alimi, head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, ordered UAE forces to leave the country within 24 hours. The government also announced a 72-hour air, land and sea blockade and declared a 90-day state of emergency. Al-Alimi, however, praised Saudi Arabia’s actions against separatist groups, calling them necessary to protect Yemen’s unity.
Saudi Arabia’s strikes are widely seen as a warning to the STC, which has expanded its military operations in southern Yemen in recent weeks. The group claims control over parts of oil- and gas-rich regions such as Hadhramaut and Al-Mahra and launched a fresh offensive in Abyan province earlier this month.
The episode highlights growing differences between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over Yemen. While both were key partners in the Saudi-led coalition formed in 2015 to counter Iran-backed Houthi rebels, analysts say the UAE later pursued a parallel strategy focused on ports, sea lanes and coastal influence, often through local allies such as the STC.
Yemen has remained engulfed in conflict since 2014, when Houthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa, forcing the government into exile. The war has killed thousands and pushed nearly 80 percent of the population into dependence on humanitarian aid. Observers warn that the latest rift within the coalition could further complicate efforts to stabilise the country.
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