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Following a tough ultimatum from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates has announced the end of its military presence in Yemen. The UAE government stated that it has achieved its pre-determined military objectives in Yemen and that all Emirati troops stationed in the country will be brought back home in the coming days.
The announcement was made on Tuesday (30 December) local time by Abu Dhabi and was confirmed by international news agency Reuters.
Just hours before the declaration, the Saudi-led military coalition carried out airstrikes on the strategic port city of Mukalla in southern Yemen, further exposing growing tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Analysts say the core of the crisis lies in the UAE’s close ties with Yemen’s separatist political-military group, the Southern Transitional Council (STC). Saudi Arabia has long expressed concern over Emirati backing of the STC, leading to deepening mistrust between the two allies.
Tensions peaked when the Saudi military issued a direct 24-hour ultimatum to Abu Dhabi, demanding the immediate withdrawal of all Emirati troops from Yemen. Attacks on arms and armored vehicle convoys allegedly destined for the STC further escalated the situation.
Riyadh had earlier urged the removal of STC-backed forces from the Hadramawt and Al-Mahra regions, followed by reports of airstrikes on STC positions.
Diplomatic efforts intensified amid the standoff. The U.S. State Department said Secretary of State Marco Rubio held discussions with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the Yemen situation and broader Middle East security concerns.
Gulf states including Kuwait and Bahrain expressed support for dialogue and political solutions, while Qatar emphasized that the security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region is inseparable from its own.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), the UAE government confirmed that its military mission in Yemen has officially ended and that troop repatriation is underway.
The Yemen conflict began in 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing then-President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to flee to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi- and UAE-led coalition launched military operations in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government.
Despite years of airstrikes and ground offensives, the Houthis have not been fully defeated. Instead, internal divisions within the coalition over power, influence, and strategy have grown more pronounced.
Since 2019, the UAE has gradually reduced its military footprint in Yemen while maintaining support for the STC, a move seen as a major challenge to Saudi-backed central government forces.
Analysts believe the UAE’s complete withdrawal could reshape the battlefield and alter the course of the conflict. Whether Saudi Arabia continues the war alone or shifts toward a diplomatic approach remains a critical question for the international community.