According to international media reports, the announcement came as Saudi Arabia backed a call for UAE forces to leave Yemen within 24 hours.

At the same time, the Saudi-led military coalition carried out airstrikes on the southern Yemeni port city of Mukalla. Riyadh said the strikes were meant to block an alleged UAE-linked weapons shipment, a claim the Emirates has firmly denied.

Saudi Arabia has drawn a clear red line around its national security, accusing the UAE of encouraging southern Yemeni separatists to take military actions that reached close to Saudi borders. Analysts say this marks the toughest Saudi stance so far against its long-time Gulf partner.

In response, the UAE said it was taken aback by the airstrike on Mukalla, stressing that the targeted shipment did not contain weapons but was meant to support Emirati forces on the ground. Abu Dhabi urged all sides to act with restraint and responsibility, warning that rash moves could fan the flames of conflict.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council chief, Rashad al Alimi, announced the cancellation of a defense agreement with the UAE. He accused Abu Dhabi of fueling instability by backing the Southern Transitional Council (STC), alleging that the UAE had encouraged separatist forces to challenge state authority and deepen military tensions.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE were once shoulder to shoulder in the Yemen war against Iran aligned Houthi rebels. However, in recent years, cracks have widened over Yemen’s future, oil production policies, and regional influence.

The fallout is already being felt beyond the battlefield. Gulf stock markets dipped following the developments, and experts warn that growing friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi could also spill over into OPEC decisions, potentially affecting global oil output and prices.

The episode highlights how alliances in the region can shift quickly, and how strategic partners can find themselves at odds when national interests start to pull in different directions.