The rift between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has surfaced publicly in an unprecedented way following an airstrike carried out by the Saudi-led coalition on the port of Mukala in southern Yemen. The strike was followed by an Emirati announcement that it would withdraw its remaining forces from the country and by an exchange of official accusations over support for southern factions and the nature of military presence — a development that ended years of managing differences within the coalition behind closed doors.
Below are five key facts summarizing what happened and its consequences, based on official statements, declarations and reports from international news agencies.
The Mukala Strike Was the Trigger for a Public Rupture
The Saudi-led coalition carried out an airstrike on the port of Mukala in Yemen’s Hadramawt province. Riyadh said the strike targeted a shipment of weapons and combat vehicles “linked to the UAE” that was headed to support forces of the Southern Transitional Council, which is backed by Abu Dhabi.
The UAE, however, said it was surprised by the strike, insisting that the targeted shipment did not contain weapons and was intended for Emirati forces operating in Yemen as part of counterterrorism missions.
Yemeni state media aired footage showing plumes of smoke and burned vehicles inside the port, while the coalition said the strike did not result in deaths or injuries.
Ships Arriving From Fujairah Became the Focus of Accusations
The coalition said the strike followed the arrival of two ships at the port of Mukala from the UAE’s Fujairah port without coordination or authorization. The Saudi Press Agency aired video of a vessel it identified as “Greenland,” saying it had unloaded military equipment.
According to available shipping records, the registered owner and operator of the vessel is Salem Al Makrani Cargo Company, a Dubai-based firm with a branch in Fujairah, according to the company’s website.
That detail shifted the dispute from a purely political-military level to a commercial and maritime one that is traceable, increasing the sensitivity of the mutual accusations.
A 24-Hour Ultimatum and Unprecedented Yemeni Measures
Following the strike, Rashad Al-Alimi, the head of Yemen’s Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council, issued a 24-hour ultimatum for Emirati forces to leave Yemen.
In a formal address, Mr. Al-Alimi accused the UAE of pressuring the Southern Transitional Council to undermine state authority through military escalation, describing the developments as a “departure from legitimacy.”
Yemeni authorities also imposed a temporary 72-hour air, land and sea closure of ports and crossings, except those authorized by the coalition’s command, reflecting heightened security tensions after the strike.
Emirati Withdrawal Announced, Political Stance Unchanged
The UAE Defense Ministry announced that Abu Dhabi had decided to withdraw its remaining forces from Yemen, saying that its main military presence had ended in 2019 and that remaining units were limited to specialized counterterrorism forces.
The ministry said the decision was taken “of its own volition” and followed a “comprehensive assessment of the requirements of the current phase.”
At the same time, Emirati officials stressed that Abu Dhabi remains a key partner in the war against the Houthis and that its support for the Southern Transitional Council has not changed — leaving the core political dispute unresolved despite the military withdrawal.
Dispute Extends Beyond Yemen to Oil and Regional Influence
The current dispute is not isolated from a broader pattern of divergence between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in recent years.
The two countries have previously clashed within the OPEC+ alliance over production quotas and oil market management policies, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE among the largest producers and most influential decision-makers.
Their priorities have also diverged on other regional files involving political and military influence, gradually affecting coordination between them in Yemen.
In this context, the U.S. State Department said that Secretary Marco Rubio discussed tensions in Yemen and issues affecting regional security and stability with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan — an indication that the rift is now drawing international attention.
