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The United Arab Emirates has agreed to rejoin aspects of the Yemen conflict by resuming funding for southern government forces battling Iran-aligned Houthis, The Guardian reported on October 17. In exchange Saudi Arabia will supply air cover for those units according to Yemeni sources cited by the newspaper. Southern formations mainly the Giants Brigades had received training and financing from the UAE before Abu Dhabi ended its operations inside Yemen and cut payments in January 2026. The Giants Brigades rank among the most effective elements in the anti-Houthi coalition The Guardian assessment found. Neither Riyadh nor Abu Dhabi has issued public confirmation of the arrangement.
The new pact represents the first concrete sign of narrowing differences between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen’s political future The Guardian reported. Deep disagreements had fractured the anti-Houthi alliance earlier this year with the UAE withdrawal leaving a funding gap for southern units. A Reuters investigation published in February 2026 detailed how Saudi Arabia subsequently allocated nearly three billion dollars to cover salaries for Yemeni forces and civil servants including roughly one billion dollars previously paid by the UAE. The financial shift underscored Riyadh’s effort to consolidate influence after the Emirati exit according to officials quoted in that report.
Houthi advances across Yemen have alarmed Gulf capitals and prompted the renewed cooperation The Guardian stated. Saudi Arabia endures daily drone and missile strikes that disrupt airports and portions of its energy infrastructure according to multiple regional reports. The attacks have prevented a return to normalcy inside the kingdom while Houthi forces press toward remaining government-held cities. Yemen’s UN-recognised government based in Aden launched a counteroffensive last week that achieved only limited gains near Marib and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait Newsmax reported citing the same developments.
Houthi fighters continue to target Taiz and Marib despite sustaining heavy losses in recent engagements The Guardian noted. Those two cities lie outside the boundaries of the former South Yemen and represent the last major urban centres still beyond Houthi control. Southern separatists issued a fresh demand this week for a referendum on secession that would restore the pre-1990 borders yet received no response from either Saudi or Emirati officials The Guardian reported. The lack of reply highlights persistent political sensitivities even as military cooperation resumes.
The Giants Brigades and affiliated southern units had formed a key component of the anti-Houthi ground effort before funding ceased in January. Their effectiveness stems from prior UAE support that included specialised training and equipment according to assessments shared with The Guardian. Restoration of that support could bolster the government counteroffensive announced by forces in Aden. Houthi military media released footage in September showing recruitment rallies in Sanaa as the group seeks to sustain momentum across multiple fronts. The broader Yemen conflict has remained fragmented since the Saudi-led intervention began in 2015 with shifting alliances complicating efforts to stabilise the country.
