What is behind the Saudi-UAE rupture in Yemen?
United Arab Emirates says its troops are pulling out of Yemen after the attack by Saudi Arabia.
It all began more than a decade ago. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were the pillars of a coalition created to fight the Houthis who had taken control in Yemen.
Over the years, that mission failed. Then the UAE set out to pursue its own long-term interests by supporting and arming a group called the Southern Transitional Council (STC) in the south of Yemen.
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But Riyadh stepped in to disrupt what it saw as a national security threat after the STC seized control of areas close to its borders.
The UAE was given 24 hours’ notice to withdraw – an ultimatum it agreed to.
So what does all this mean for the future of Yemen?
Presenter: James Bays
Guests:
Abdul-aziz Al Ghashian – Senior non-resident fellow at Gulf International Forum
Alkharder Sulaiman – Southern Transitional Council spokesman
Andreas Krieg – Associate professor at the School of Security Studies, King’s College London
Published On 31 Dec 2025