Dialogos

Abu Dhabi-Riyadh Rift Leads UAE to Withdraw from Yemen

Published December 30, 2025, 18:01
Abu Dhabi-Riyadh Rift Leads UAE to Withdraw from Yemen

The United Arab Emirates has announced the withdrawal of its remaining forces from Yemen, following an open rift between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, both Gulf powers. Abu Dhabi made the announcement just hours after an airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition on the port of Mukalla in southern Yemen. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are seeing their interests diverge on everything from oil quotas to geopolitical influence. The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that it had voluntarily ended the mission of its counter-terrorism units in Yemen, the only forces it had in the country after completing its military presence in Yemen in 2019. The ministry stated that the “remaining presence is limited to specialized personnel within the framework of counter-terrorism efforts, in coordination with international partners.” Saudi Arabia has accused the UAE of pressuring Southern Yemeni separatists to carry out military operations that reached the kingdom's borders. The tensions have escalated within the coalition as Abu Dhabi has supported the Southern Transitional Council's (STC) pursuit of autonomy, while Riyadh has continued to support the internationally recognized Yemeni government, ultimately creating an open rift between the two Gulf allies.