UAE Announces Full Withdrawal from Yemen Amid Crisis with Saudi Arabia

The United Arab Emirates has officially announced the termination of its military presence in Yemen, marking a dramatic conclusion to its direct involvement in the decade-long conflict. In a statement released Tuesday by the Ministry of Defense, Abu Dhabi confirmed it is withdrawing its remaining counterterrorism units “voluntarily” and “in coordination with relevant partners,” though the move comes amid an unprecedented diplomatic and military rupture with Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government.
The announcement follows a volatile 24 hours that brought the two Gulf powerhouses to the brink of direct confrontation. Tensions exploded earlier on Tuesday when the Saudi-led coalition launched an airstrike on the Yemeni port of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh described as a weapons shipment destined for the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC). In response to the alleged shipment, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), led by Rashad al-Alimi, cancelled a joint defense pact with the UAE and issued a sharp 24-hour ultimatum for all Emirati forces to leave the country.
While the UAE Ministry of Defense framed the withdrawal as a calculated strategic decision based on a “comprehensive assessment,” the timing suggests it is a direct response to the Saudi ultimatum. “Given the recent developments and the potential implications for the safety and effectiveness of counterterrorism tasks, the Ministry announces the termination of the remaining teams,” the statement read. Emirati officials emphasized that the bulk of their combat forces had already withdrawn in 2019, leaving only specialized units to combat Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).
The diplomatic fallout is severe. Abdulla Mohammed Butti Al Hamed, chairman of the UAE National Media Office, stated that Abu Dhabi’s approach was guided by “wisdom rather than emotion,” a veiled critique of Riyadh’s aggressive posture. Meanwhile, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described the UAE’s recent actions—specifically the alleged arming of separatists in Hadramaut and Al-Mahra—as “highly dangerous,” declaring national security a “red line.”
This withdrawal leaves the STC, a secessionist group that controls Aden and much of the south, in a precarious position. Without the direct cover of Emirati boots on the ground, the power struggle between the STC and the Saudi-backed central government is expected to intensify, potentially fracturing the anti-Houthi coalition irreparably.