The United Arab Emirates has formally denied accusations of operating secret prisons in southern Yemen. The allegations, which emerged from Saudi-backed Yemeni officials, escalate a growing rift between the two Gulf allies involved in the Yemeni conflict.
In a statement released Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defence described the claims as “deliberate fabrications” and a “blatant attempt to advance political agendas at the expense of truth.”
These accusations originated from Hadramawt province on Monday, following recent clashes between forces supported by the UAE and those backed by Saudi Arabia. The confrontations prompted Abu Dhabi to withdraw its remaining military presence from the area.
While Saudi Arabia and the UAE initially intervened in Yemen in 2015 to combat the Houthi movement, their strategic interests have since diverged, leading them to support opposing factions in the south.
The governor of Hadramawt, addressing foreign media invited by the Saudi-aligned Yemeni government, stated that “a number of secret prisons used by Emirati forces” had been uncovered.
In response, the UAE defence ministry clarified that “the facilities referred to are merely military accommodation, operations rooms and fortified shelters, some of which are located underground.” The ministry’s statement questioned the “true motives and parties behind the promotion of these falsehoods.”
The dispute highlights the ongoing power struggle in southern Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is now working to consolidate control over government-held territories, while northern regions remain under Houthi control.
