UAE Fully Withdraws Troops from Yemen Amid Growing Gulf Rift

The United Arab Emirates has announced the full withdrawal of its remaining forces from Yemen, formally bringing its military mission in the country to an end and marking a significant shift in Gulf regional dynamics.

The decision was confirmed on Tuesday, shortly after Saudi Arabia backed a call for UAE forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours. The move has intensified an already growing rift between the two Gulf allies, both of which have long been central players in regional security and global energy markets.

Tensions escalated further just hours before the announcement, when Saudi-led coalition forces carried out airstrikes on the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla. Riyadh said the strike targeted a weapons shipment linked to the UAE, describing it as a necessary security operation. The attack has been widely seen as the most serious escalation so far in the deteriorating relationship between the two Gulf monarchies.

In response to the rising tensions, diplomatic efforts quickly followed. The United States State Department confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with the foreign ministers of both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, focusing on the situation in Yemen and broader security concerns across the Middle East. Several Gulf states also weighed in, with Kuwait and Bahrain expressing support for dialogue and political solutions, while Qatar emphasized that the security of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations is inseparable from its own.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said the withdrawal was a voluntary decision following a comprehensive review of recent developments. According to the ministry, the forces being pulled out were the last remaining UAE personnel in Yemen, consisting mainly of specialized counterterrorism units. These troops had remained after the UAE officially ended its broader military involvement in Yemen in 2019.

In a statement carried by the state news agency WAM, the ministry explained that the remaining mission had been limited to counterterrorism activities conducted in coordination with international partners. However, shifting regional circumstances prompted a reassessment, ultimately leading to the decision to conclude the mission entirely.

Once regarded as twin pillars of Gulf security, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have increasingly found themselves at odds in recent years. Their differences have extended beyond Yemen to include oil production policies, regional influence, and broader geopolitical priorities.

The UAE’s complete withdrawal from Yemen signals a major turning point in the conflict and underscores the evolving power dynamics within the Gulf, as regional actors reassess alliances, security strategies, and their roles in one of the Middle East’s most protracted crises.