Saudi Arabia Warns UAE Troop Exit From Yemen Puts Kingdom on Edge
Saudi Arabia warns that a UAE troop pullout from Yemen endangers the kingdom’s national security, sending oil prices higher and raising fears of a fresh Houthi offensive.
A Kingdom on Edge
Riyadh’s Red-Line Moment
When the call came in to Riyadh’s National Security Council on Tuesday evening, the message was blunt: the United Arab Emirates had formally requested its forces leave Yemen within 30 days. Within minutes, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman summoned his war cabinet. One aide later told Al-Riyadh Daily the prince’s first words were, “National security is a red line we will not allow anyone to cross.”
The Unraveling Alliance
For eight years, Saudi and Emirati jets shared runways, intelligence and, at times, targets. Now, satellite images show UAE-flagged transport planes lifting armor out of the port of Mokha while Saudi border guards brace for a potential Houthi surge across the 1,800-km frontier.
“If the south collapses, we are looking at ballistic-missile launch sites 50 km from our cities,” a senior Saudi military planner told reporters off the record.
What Prompted the Exit?
- Abu Dhabi’s pivot toward maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz
- Mounting domestic pressure after Houthi drone strikes on UAE oil depots last year
- A quiet Washington nudge to reduce Gulf tensions ahead of renewed Iran talks
Market Shockwaves
Within hours of the announcement, Brent crude jumped $2.40, pushing past $88 a barrel. Traders priced in the risk of renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities similar to the 2019 Abqaiq strike.
Street-Level Anxiety
In Jazan, near the Yemen border, supermarket owner Khalid al-Qahtani says sales of rice and bottled water spiked 40%. “People remember 2015. They’re stocking up,” he said, gesturing to half-empty shelves.
What Happens Next?
Diplomats in Muscat hint at back-channel talks between Riyadh and the Houthis, brokered by Oman. Yet Saudi officials publicly insist any truce must include a buffer zone inside Yemen 30 km from the kingdom’s border—an ultimatum the Houthis have previously rejected.
As night fell on Wednesday, Saudi Patriot batteries near Najan fired two interceptors at incoming projectiles. No casualties were reported, but the message was clear: the red line has already been tested.