The UAE had previously withdrawn from Yemen following tensions with Saudi Arabia. The reported agreement marks an attempt by Riyadh and Abu Dhabi to bridge their differences as Houthi forces continue to make advances across Yemen, including along the western coast.
The recent expansion of Houthi control has raised concerns in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia is facing daily drone and missile attacks from the Houthis, which have disrupted the kingdom's airports and energy-related infrastructure. These attacks have made it difficult for Riyadh to maintain normal conditions across the country.
However, the reported Saudi-UAE understanding remains fragile, with longstanding divisions within the anti-Houthi camp continuing to pose challenges.
Southern Yemeni forces had previously received substantial support from the UAE, with the Giants Brigades emerging as one of the most prominent beneficiaries. The force is regarded as one of the most effective military formations among the coalitions established to fight the Houthis.
In December 2025, southern militias launched an offensive aimed at establishing control over Aden and other southern areas. Saudi Arabia responded with heavy airstrikes and deployed its forces. Riyadh accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the southern militias and demanded that Abu Dhabi immediately halt its support.
Following the tensions with Saudi Arabia, the UAE suspended its operations inside Yemen in January this year. It also stopped funding southern forces, marking a significant shift in its involvement in the conflict.
The withdrawal further deepened rivalries between the internationally backed Presidential Leadership Council and other factions operating in Yemen. Despite these divisions, southern groups have maintained their demand for an independent state.
Earlier this week, separatists in southern Yemen called for a referendum on secession. If the proposal moves forward, it could pave the way for the restoration of the borders that existed between 1967 and 1990, when North Yemen and South Yemen were separate countries.
The reported Saudi-UAE arrangement could reshape support for anti-Houthi forces, but longstanding political divisions and the southern separatists' independence ambitions remain significant challenges to a unified front in Yemen.
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