UAE Ends All Military Presence In Yemen, Pulls Out Last Counterterrorism Units

The United Arab Emirates formally ended its entire military footprint in Yemen, withdrawing even its remaining counterterrorism personnel and bringing its involvement in the conflict to a close. In an official statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence announced the termination of its remaining counterterrorism mission in Yemen, confirming that no Emirati military personnel are now stationed inside the country. The move concludes all residual UAE presence years after Abu Dhabi declared an end to its combat operations in 2019.

The ministry said that following the drawdown of combat forces, only specialised counterterrorism elements had been retained in Yemen in coordination with international partners. These units, too, have now been withdrawn in what

the UAE described as a “voluntary, orderly and safety-first” process carried out in coordination with concerned partners.

Abu Dhabi framed the decision as part of a comprehensive assessment of the current phase of the Yemen conflict, saying it aligns with the UAE’s stated commitments to regional security and long-term stability. The statement also reiterated the UAE’s role since 2015 as part of the Arab Coalition, citing the sacrifices made in support of Yemen’s internationally recognised legitimacy and counterterrorism objectives.

Top Indian intelligence sources said the announcement makes it clear that this is not limited to frontline troops.

“Not just combat forces, which left in 2019, but even the last counterterrorism teams are being pulled out. After this decision, there is no UAE military presence inside Yemen,” a senior source said.

The careful emphasis on the withdrawal being voluntary, coordinated and safety-focused is being read as a signal that Abu Dhabi does not view the move as a forced retreat or crisis-driven exit. Instead, sources said, the UAE is seeking a clean disengagement from a theatre that has increasingly become a strategic liability.

According to intelligence assessments, Yemen now presents multiple risks for the UAE- from the expanding influence of the Houthi movement and the broader Iran factor, to escalating tensions in the Red Sea and the growing humanitarian and reputational costs of prolonged involvement.

“The UAE wants out without escalation, without blame and without being dragged into the next phase of the conflict,” an intelligence official said, adding that Abu Dhabi appears keen to recalibrate its regional posture amid shifting security dynamics.

The development comes a day after Saudi Arabia carried out airstrikes on Yemen’s port city of Mukalla, targeting what Riyadh described as a security threat linked to weapons movement.