The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced on Tuesday the “voluntary” withdrawal of its remaining military personnel from Yemen, following a dramatic escalation in tensions with its long-time ally, Saudi Arabia. The UAE Ministry of Defence stated that the decision to terminate its counterterrorism mission was made to ensure the safety of its personnel in light of recent regional developments. This move comes after Saudi Arabia backed a 24-hour ultimatum for Emirati forces to leave the country and declared a UAE-supported separatist advance a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security.
UAE Statement on Ongoing Developments in Yemenhttps://t.co/UVDyX2yKDk pic.twitter.com/mXYfDP9Y9W
— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) December 30, 2025
The rift between the two Gulf monarchies turned into an open dispute after the Saudi-led coalition conducted air strikes on the southern port of Mukalla. Saudi officials claimed the strikes targeted an Emirati weapons shipment destined for the Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group that has recently seized significant territory. Abu Dhabi rejected these accusations, insisting the cargo consisted of non-military vehicles. In response to the separatist offensive, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council declared a 90-day state of emergency and annulled its security pact with the UAE.
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The geopolitical friction has rattled regional markets, with the Dubai share index suffering its largest daily decline since June. While oil prices remained relatively steady due to global oversupply perceptions, the collapse of the Riyadh-Abu Dhabi alliance marks a critical turning point in the decade-long Yemen conflict, threatening the stability of the anti-Houthi coalition.
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