UAE and Saudi Arabia form new pact on Yemen as Houthi forces advance

United Arab Emirates will reportedly resume payments to Yemeni forces as gains by Iran-backed Houthi fighters alarm Gulf state rulers Yemen civil war: what sparked latest escalation and who is involved? The United Arab Emirates has agreed to re-enter the Yemen conflict by resuming payments to some government forces fighting Iran-aligned Houthis in the south, according to sources in Yemen. In return, Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide air cover for the anti-Houthi force. The new cooperation agreement is the first tangible signs that the deep rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia over Yemen’s future is starting to be healed – if only because the advance by Houthi forces across Yemen has alarmed all the rival Gulf state rulers. Continue reading...

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Oct 17, 2026, 13:39 UTC

A military checkpoint in an arid Yemeni desert landscape with distant soldiers standing near a guard post under harsh daylight. — REAL NEWS HUB

The United Arab Emirates has struck a deal with Saudi Arabia to resume its role in the Yemeni conflict, agreeing to restart financial backing for local forces combating Iran-aligned Houthi militants in southern Yemen. In exchange, Riyadh has pledged to deliver aerial support to these anti-Houthi units, local sources reported.

The renewed partnership suggests a mending of relations between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, who had fallen out over competing visions for Yemen. The rapprochement comes amid growing unease across Gulf monarchies over recent military advances made by Houthi forces. Saudi territory is currently enduring persistent drone and missile bombardments that have disrupted commercial flights and hit domestic energy facilities.

Front-line groups in southern Yemen, notably the Giants Brigades, were previously armed and funded by the UAE and are considered among the most capable components of the anti-Houthi coalition. However, Abu Dhabi withdrew its participation and halted funding in January. That departure followed severe friction when the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) sought to seize authority across the south, prompting Saudi air strikes on Emirati weapon consignments and leading STC head Aidarous al-Zubaidi to seek exile in Abu Dhabi.

Yemen's internationally backed administration in Aden launched a military push last week to push Houthi fighters out of Sanaa. That effort has produced modest gains around the Bab al-Mandab strait and the Majzar area near Marib. Concurrently, Houthi forces continue striving to seize both Marib and Taiz, maintaining their offensive despite heavy battlefield casualties.

Instability in Aden remains acute. Houthi forces launched two missiles on Friday near a passenger airliner preparing for departure at Aden airport, landing roughly 100 metres from the runway with no reported injuries. That incident came a day after an attack on Aden's presidential compound resulted in five deaths and 16 wounded.

Meanwhile, southern separatists are calling for a referendum to restore the borders that existed before Yemeni unification in 1990. Neither Riyadh nor Abu Dhabi has officially addressed the proposal, and the STC currently limits its operations to former southern territory.

Other regional powers are monitoring the crisis closely. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced an emergency parliamentary session to authorise military measures strictly to assist in defending Saudi territory, ruling out offensive action. In Britain, authorities are reviewing requests from Riyadh for expanded military assistance, having already deployed an air-refuelling plane.

United Nations estimates indicate that more than 200,000 residents have been displaced since August, placing immense strain on relief operations in Aden. On 15 October, the UN Security Council issued a statement affirming Saudi Arabia's right to self-defence under international law.

Explained: catch up on this storyWhy has fighting flared up again in Yemen?A fragile four-year truce in Yemen has collapsed into widespread warfare after rebel advances prompted the Saudi-backed government to launch Operation Yemen Dawn.Read the explainer →

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