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Saudi-UAE rift
Saudi Arabia’s coalition has publicly accused the United Arab Emirates of covertly evacuating Aidarous al-Zubaidi, the leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), from Aden by boat and then by air to Abu Dhabi.
“Saudi Arabia has accused the United Arab Emirates of smuggling Aidarous al‑Zubaidi, leader of the UAE‑backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), out of Yemen after he skipped crisis talks in Riyadh.”
The coalition expelled and charged him with treason after he missed Saudi-hosted talks, framing the move as part of a growing rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.
Riyadh’s statements and state media allege Emirati personnel were involved and have called for international action.
Officials say the incident underscores a breakdown in the once-cooperative anti-Houthi coalition.
Alleged escape route
Saudi statements and multiple reports give a consistent, detailed account of the alleged escape route.
They say Zubaidi left Aden by boat for the Emirati-owned port of Berbera in Somaliland.
He then boarded a plane that stopped in Mogadishu before landing at an Abu Dhabi military airport.
Reports say identification systems were disabled en route.
Saudi briefings pointed to an Ilyushin Il-76 cargo jet linked to prior flights into conflict zones and named a UAE officer in connection with the alleged operation.
Somalia has opened an inquiry after reports the flight used its airports.
Riyadh media pressure campaign
Riyadh's campaign included coordinated state media coverage and the public naming of individuals and assets.
“Riyadh has publicly accused the UAE of aiding a purported escape by Southern Transitional Council (STC) leader Aidarous al‑Zubaidi, mounting a media campaign (Al Arabiya aired alleged intercepted calls and Arab News ran a “WANTED” front page) and calling the dispute the worst confrontation between the neighbors in decades.”
Saudi outlets aired purported intercepted calls and ran WANTED front pages; Saudi spokespeople also identified a UAE major general and linked an Il-76 cargo plane to the operation.
Multiple Western mainstream outlets and regional feeds reported those moves as part of a deliberate effort to expose and pressure the UAE.
The UAE has not publicly answered those allegations.
Reactions to Zubaidi's departure
Reactions on the ground and from involved parties are mixed and sometimes contradictory.
The STC has at times denied that Zubaidi left Aden, saying he remained among anti-Houthi forces.
Other reports say he missed Riyadh talks, and some STC sources did not dispute that he escaped.
Somalia has opened an inquiry into reported use of its airports.
The Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council expelled and charged Zubaidi with treason.
The UAE has largely not publicly admitted involvement, deepening diplomatic strain as Saudi forces carried out strikes against separatist positions.
Gulf rift and Yemen impact
Observers and analysts warn the episode has widened an already deep rift between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, with implications for Yemen’s future, regional alignments and the broader war’s humanitarian toll.
“Analyst Ahelbarra warned the incident has exposed an unprecedented rift between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Yemen, with no sign of compromise and relations likely to worsen.”
Several outlets describe the dispute as the worst confrontation between the two Gulf powers in decades and allege it occurred alongside accusations of arms shipments and renewed Saudi strikes.
They also warn of further destabilization in a country with a protracted conflict that has killed over 150,000 people and created a severe humanitarian crisis.
The incident may reshape how the anti-Houthi coalition operates and complicate international diplomatic efforts.