UAE Says It Has Pulled All Troops From Yemen as Crisis Escalates

The move was made after Yemen’s separatist movement announced a constitution for an independent southern nation.

A convoy of armored vehicles makes its way along a street in the port city of Mukalla, Yemen, on Jan. 1, 2026. AFP via Getty Images

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced early on Jan. 3 that it had fully withdrawn its troops from Yemen, fulfilling a pledge made amid escalating tensions.

“The return of the UAE forces follows the implementation of a previously announced decision to conclude the remaining missions of counter-terrorism units,” the UAE Ministry of Defense said in a statement posted to X by local media outlets. “The process has been conducted in a manner that ensured the safety of all personnel and carried out in coordination with all relevant partners.”