UAE rejects Yemeni claims of secret prisons, weapons in Al-Riyan
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- UAE denies Yemeni accusations of secret prisons and weapons at Al-Riyan Airport.
- UAE says all forces withdrew from Yemen on January 2, 2026, ending military presence.
The United Arab Emirates has strongly denied allegations from Yemen’s Hadramout governor accusing Abu Dhabi of operating secret prisons and storing weapons in Al-Riyan Airport, in the city of Mukalla.
In a statement Monday, the UAE Ministry of Defense said the claims were “false and misleading,” with no evidence supporting assertions of explosives, weapons, or secret detention facilities linked to Emirati forces.
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“These allegations are completely unfounded and represent a deliberate attempt to distort facts and mislead public opinion,” the statement said, adding that they tarnish the reputation of the UAE armed forces.
The ministry confirmed that UAE troops completed their full withdrawal from Yemen on January 2, 2026, removing all equipment, weapons, and devices. “This eliminates any possibility of misinterpretation or claims of a continued military, logistical, or technical presence in Yemen,” it said.
Allegations of Secret Prisons
Regarding claims of secret prisons at Al-Riyan, the UAE said the facilities in question were standard military accommodations, operations rooms, and fortified shelters, some underground, “common in airports and military sites worldwide.” The ministry called the accusations “fabricated narratives lacking accuracy and professionalism.”
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The statement questioned the motives behind linking the UAE to such allegations, describing them as part of a “coordinated campaign to damage the image of the UAE and its soldiers’ decade-long sacrifices supporting Yemen’s security and stability.”
Yemeni Officials Speak
Earlier Monday, Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi held a press conference in Mukalla, asserting that authorities discovered “secret prisons previously used by Emirati forces” and that investigations are underway to document violations against detainees. He cited underground cells, explosives, and other suspicious equipment at Al-Riyan.
The UAE’s denial follows its official announcement on January 3 that all military personnel had returned home, after Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council ordered the removal of all Emirati forces within 24 hours, ending the joint defense agreement with Abu Dhabi.
The announcement comes after recent clashes in eastern and southern Yemen, where the now-dissolved Southern Transitional Council attempted to seize Hadramout and Al-Mahrah provinces before government forces regained control with support from the Saudi-led coalition.
Regional Implications
The Southern Transitional Council’s former leader, Aidros Al-Zubaidi, reportedly fled from Aden to Somalia and then the UAE, facing legal proceedings after the Yemeni government stripped him of his council membership for “high treason.”
The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over foreign military involvement in Yemen, even after official troop withdrawals, and underscores the fragile security and political situation in the south of the country.
