The December 2025 escalation in southern Yemen brought to the surface tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, two long-standing partners within the coalition formed against the Houthis. Saudi air strikes against forces aligned with the Southern Transitional Council, followed by Emirati denials and the announcement of a troop withdrawal, were widely interpreted as signs of rivalry. Beyond the immediate episode, however, the sequence illustrates a gradual divergence in how both countries approach their engagement in Yemen, shaped as much by local fragmentation as by differing assessments of how stability can be supported.
A coalition under strain, not a sudden rupture
Since 2015, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi have shared the objective of preventing Yemen from becoming a permanent source of regional instability. Their cooperation against the Houthi movement was built on this convergence. Over time, however, their respective approaches evolved in response to developments on the ground.
Saudi Arabia has remained focused on the restoration of a central authority capable of preserving Yemen’s territorial integrity and securing its southern border. The UAE, while remaining formally aligned with the coalition framework, has increasingly concentrated its efforts in southern Yemen, engaging with local actors it considers effective in addressing immediate security challenges, notably counterterrorism and maritime security. Emirati officials have consistently presented this engagement as a response to governance gaps and local security needs, rather than as an attempt to reshape Yemen’s political map.
Tensions intensified in December when forces linked to the Southern Transitional Council expanded their presence in parts of Hadramout and Mahra. These developments were perceived in Riyadh as potentially destabilising, particularly given their proximity to Saudi territory.
From confrontation to recalibration
On 30 December, coalition aircraft led by Saudi Arabia carried out air strikes in and around the port of Mukalla, citing intelligence concerns over military equipment allegedly destined for STC-aligned forces. The strikes, based on claims that were not independently verified at the time, were widely seen as an unusually public assertion of Saudi red lines. By moving from behind-the-scenes coordination to overt military action, Riyadh departed from the discreet management of intra-coalition disagreements that had previously helped contain tensions, raising questions about the proportionality and political signalling of the operation.
Abu Dhabi rejected the accusations, denying any arms transfers and stating that the targeted cargo had been coordinated in advance and was intended for Emirati personnel operating in Yemen. Shortly thereafter, the UAE announced the withdrawal of its remaining troops.
Rather than signalling disengagement from Yemen altogether, this move reflected a recalibration of Emirati involvement. Direct military presence was reduced, while partnerships with local actors and political engagement were maintained. From the Emirati perspective, limiting foreign troop deployments was seen as a way to avoid exacerbating local tensions and to adapt to the realities of a highly fragmented environment.
Managing divergence while avoiding escalation
Southern Yemen is often portrayed primarily through the lens of regional competition. The situation on the ground, however, is more complex. Local forces supported by the UAE had previously played a significant role in rolling back Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates from key areas, including coastal cities and strategic infrastructure. Their local legitimacy has rested largely on security provision and administrative continuity, alongside broader political aspirations. For Abu Dhabi, cooperation with these actors has been framed as a pragmatic response to Yemen’s institutional fragmentation, favouring locally embedded arrangements over externally imposed governance.
Following the December strikes, Saudi Arabia called for dialogue among southern factions while maintaining pressure to prevent further territorial changes. The UAE, for its part, avoided escalation, presenting its troop withdrawal as a sovereign and precautionary decision aimed at protecting its personnel and preserving cooperation with its regional partners. The United States refrained from taking sides, urging restraint and warning against further destabilisation.
The episode did not transform Yemen into a theatre of open Gulf rivalry, but it did highlight the limits of a unified strategy in a deeply fragmented country. While Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its priorities regarding territorial integrity, the UAE underscored that influence and support for stabilisation need not rely on permanent military deployment.
