In a statement from the UAE Defense Ministry, the withdrawal was cited due to “recent developments and their potential repercussions on the safety and effectiveness of counter-terrorism operations.” The UAE emphasized that the move was voluntary, while rejecting accusations of arming separatists or undermining Saudi security.
The crisis erupted after the Saudi-led coalition conducted a “limited” airstrike on Mukalla port early Tuesday, destroying vehicles and cargo that Saudi state media claimed were armored vehicles and weapons unloaded from ships arriving from the UAE’s Fujairah port. No casualties were reported in the strike.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), chaired by Rashad al-Alimi and aligned with Saudi Arabia, responded by canceling a joint defense agreement with the UAE, declaring a 90-day state of emergency, and imposing a 72-hour blockade on ports and borders. Al-Alimi accused the UAE of fueling internal strife by supporting the STC’s recent offensive, which seized control of large parts of southern Yemen, including oil-rich Hadramout province.
Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry backed the ultimatum, stating that UAE actions posed a threat to its national security—a “red line”—and urged Abu Dhabi to cease all military and financial support to Yemeni factions.
The UAE Foreign Ministry denied shipping weapons, insisting the vehicles were for its own forces and that the shipment was coordinated with Riyadh beforehand. It called for restraint and wisdom to avoid further escalation.
This marks the most serious public confrontation between the two Gulf neighbors in decades, despite their historical alliance in the Yemen coalition against Iran-backed Houthi rebels since 2015. The UAE began drawing down troops in 2019 but maintained a limited presence and influence through proxies like the STC.
Analysts warn the rift could complicate regional stability, OPEC+ oil decisions, and efforts to resolve Yemen’s long-running civil war, which has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
The situation remains fluid, with no confirmed timeline for the UAE withdrawal and ongoing calls for de-escalation from international partners, including the United States.
