UAE rejects Hadramout claims of arms, secret prisons in eastern Yemen

The UAE Ministry of Defense has categorically denied allegations made by Yemen’s Hadramout governor regarding the discovery of weapons, explosives, and alleged secret detention facilities linked to the United Arab Emirates at Al-Rayyan Airport in the city of Mukalla.

In a statement issued on Monday, the ministry said the claims raised during a press conference by Salem al-Hanbashi were “baseless and unsupported by any evidence,” describing them as “false and misleading” and aimed at distorting facts and deceiving public opinion.

The ministry stressed that the UAE completed a full, official, and publicly announced withdrawal from Yemen on December 3, 2025. It said the withdrawal included the transfer of all military equipment, weapons, and technical assets in accordance with established military procedures, leaving no Emirati military, logistical, or technical presence on Yemeni territory.

‘Deliberate fabrications’
Addressing allegations of so-called “secret prisons” at Al-Rayyan Airport, the ministry said the accusations fall within what it described as deliberate fabrication and disinformation. It clarified that the facilities cited are standard military barracks, operations rooms, and fortified shelters, some of which are located underground, a common feature at airports and military installations worldwide.

Earlier in the day, al-Hanbashi, who is also a member of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, claimed that secret prisons run by the UAE had been discovered in Hadramout, in eastern Yemen.

He added that the government would take all necessary measures against the UAE and the Southern Transitional Council in order to “achieve justice for the victims,” without providing further details or evidence to support the allegations.

Yemeni govt says secret prisons discovered
A senior official in the Saudi-backed Yemeni government revealed Monday the discovery of “secret prisons” operated by the United Arab Emirates in the eastern province of Hadhramaut.

The official, speaking to Reuters, stated that the secret detention facilities were reportedly used to detain individuals without due process. The official did not disclose further details regarding the number of facilities or the conditions of detainees.

He further declared that the government will take “all necessary measures” against both the UAE and its separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, to “achieve justice for victims.”

UAE-KSA rift explained
This follows a sharp deterioration in relations between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over influence in southern Yemen. Saudi officials have increasingly accused Emirati-backed factions, particularly forces aligned with the Southern Transitional Council, of advancing agendas that threaten Saudi national security, a notable rupture between two states that once jointly led the military coalition intervening in Yemen since 2015.

In December, STC-affiliated forces briefly expanded their footprint across several southern governorates, advancing toward areas Riyadh considers strategically sensitive, including zones near the Saudi border. Saudi officials later described the advance as a “red line,” warning that unchecked separatism, militia rule, or territorial fragmentation could have grave security consequences for the kingdom.

The escalation prompted Saudi airstrikes on a shipment linked to UAE-supported forces, followed by a rapid counter-deployment by Saudi-aligned units that reversed the STC’s gains. Saudi-backed “National Shield” forces subsequently announced full deployment across Aden governorate, while the Presidential Leadership Council moved to retake camps and installations previously controlled by STC-aligned units, exposing deep fractures within the coalition that has dominated Yemeni politics and security for nearly a decade.