UAE completes withdrawal of forces from Yemen

The United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that all its military personnel operating in Yemen have returned home, marking the completion of the withdrawal of its remaining counterterrorism units.

The Ministry of Defense said the move was coordinated with relevant partners to ensure the safety of personnel.

Read more: “24 hours”: Saudi Arabia calls for UAE to withdraw forces from Yemen

The announcement comes amid heightened political and military tensions in Yemen following the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council’s takeover of Hadramawt and Al Mahrah provinces in early December, a move that significantly altered on-the-ground alliances.

Presidential orders and withdrawal deadline

On Dec. 27, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi formally requested military support from the Saudi-led International Coalition to Support Legitimacy.

Al-Alimi issued a decree canceling the UAE-Yemen joint defense agreement and demanded the withdrawal of all UAE forces within 24 hours.

Read more: UAE announces withdrawal of forces from Yemen

Diplomatic tensions

The withdrawal follows sharp diplomatic exchanges. Saudi Arabia publicly accused the UAE of actions that threaten "the Kingdom's national security, and the security and stability of the Republic of Yemen and the region" while Abu Dhabi reaffirmed that it had ended the limited activities of its counterterrorism units and rejected attempts to link the country to disputes among Yemeni factions.

The full withdrawal marks a turning point in Yemen’s security landscape, leaving eastern provinces to navigate new security challenges after years of UAE military presence as part of coalition operations. Regional observers are closely monitoring how the situation evolves between the Yemeni government and the Southern Transitional Council.