UAE Backs Saudi Arabia’s Push to Restore Security and Stability in Yemen

Post by : Saif Nasser

The United Arab Emirates has expressed strong support for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to restore security and stability in Yemen, as tensions rise in the country’s southern regions. In an official statement released on Friday, the UAE’s foreign ministry said it remains committed to backing all initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, development, and stability in Yemen.

The statement comes at a sensitive time, as Yemen’s main southern separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, or STC, has expanded its control across parts of the south. Earlier this month, the STC pushed the Saudi-backed, internationally recognised Yemeni government out of its headquarters in the port city of Aden. The group later claimed broad control over southern areas, increasing concerns about renewed conflict.

The STC is supported by the UAE and has long sought greater autonomy, or even independence, for southern Yemen. Although it was once part of the Saudi-led coalition fighting against the Iran-aligned Houthi movement, the STC has since turned against the central government and continues to press for self-rule in the south.

Saudi Arabia, which leads the coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government, said on Thursday that it hopes the STC will step back from further escalation. Riyadh has urged the group to withdraw its forces from the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Mahra, areas seen as strategically important for Yemen’s unity and stability.

To ease rising tensions, a joint Saudi-Emirati military delegation arrived in Aden on December 12. The delegation is working with local parties to reduce the risk of conflict and to find a peaceful solution. Saudi officials said the teams were sent to make arrangements that would allow STC forces to return to their previous positions outside the disputed provinces. These efforts, they added, are still ongoing.

Yemen has been trapped in a long and devastating civil war since 2014. The conflict began when the Houthi movement seized control of the capital, Sanaa, forcing the Saudi-backed government to flee to the south. Since then, the country has remained divided, with the Houthis controlling most of the north and the government and its allies holding parts of the south.

The war has caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions of people facing food shortages, displacement, and limited access to basic services. Political divisions, foreign involvement, and ongoing fighting have made it difficult to reach a lasting peace.

Yemen’s location adds to its importance. The country lies between Saudi Arabia and a major shipping route in the Red Sea, making its stability critical for regional security and global trade. Yemen was once divided into separate northern and southern states until they were unified in 1990, a history that still influences today’s political tensions.

By welcoming Saudi Arabia’s efforts, the UAE has signaled its support for coordinated regional action to calm the situation. Both countries say their goal is to prevent further violence, support dialogue among Yemeni groups, and help the country move toward long-term stability.

While challenges remain, the joint Saudi-Emirati approach highlights the importance of cooperation in addressing Yemen’s complex conflict. Whether these efforts will succeed depends on the willingness of all sides to step back from confrontation and work toward a political solution that brings peace to a war-weary nation.