UAE and Saudi Arabia Re-enter Yemen Conflict Against Houthis 2026

The UAE and Saudi Arabia have agreed to re-enter the Yemen conflict, with the UAE resuming payments to government forces fighting Houthi rebels in the south, and Saudi Arabia providing air cover. This new cooperation agreement signals a potential healing of the rift between the two Gulf states, as Houthi advances alarm rival rulers.

UAE and Saudi Arabia Re-enter Yemen Conflict

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. This new cooperation agreement is the first tangible sign 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. The background to this story is set out in Houthi Strikes in Yemen Kill Dozens, Saudi Warns of Further. A related thread runs through Saudi Arabia Prepares Sea and Land Offensive Against Houthis. Earlier coverage in Saudi Arabia Sea Offensive Against Houthis: Oil Export Risks shows how the argument developed.

Background of the Conflict

The Yemen conflict has been ongoing since 2014 when Houthi forces seized the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government. The UAE was a key member of the coalition but withdrew its forces in January, cutting off funding to southern forces. The Houthis have recently made significant gains, including attacks on Saudi airports and energy infrastructure. A closer look at the same subject appears in Houthi Attack on Saudi Base Escalates Yemen Conflict. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Houthi Threat to Saudi Ports Escalates Red Sea Crisis. The same theme surfaces in Houthi Advances in Yemen Threaten Aden Airport and Global Trade, which takes a different angle.

Key Players and Forces

The Giant Brigades, previously trained and funded by the UAE, are regarded as some of the most effective forces in the disjointed anti-Houthi military coalition. The Southern Transitional Council (STC), a separatist group, has demanded a referendum on secession, which would restore the 1967-1990 borders when Yemen was two separate states. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE have responded to this demand, and the STC has not yet agreed for its troops to fight outside the borders of the old Southern Yemen. Context on how this played out before sits in Iran-Backed Houthis Missile Attack on Saudi Arabia: Tensions. A companion piece, Iran-Backed Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Arabia, approaches the same subject from another angle.

Comparison of UAE and Saudi Roles in Yemen

Key Takeaways

• The UAE and Saudi Arabia have agreed to cooperate again in Yemen, with the UAE resuming funding and Saudi Arabia providing air cover.
• The agreement aims to counter Houthi advances, which have alarmed Gulf states.
• The Giant Brigades, funded by the UAE, are considered effective against Houthis.
• The Southern Transitional Council's demand for secession remains unresolved.
• The rift between the UAE and Saudi Arabia appears to be healing due to the common threat.

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