The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been the subject of skepticism, often perceived as malicious attempts to overshadow its pivotal and positive role in Yemen. Over the past several years, the UAE has consistently provided humanitarian aid and political efforts to cease the ongoing crisis that has spanned more than a decade.
The UAE’s commitment extends to facilitating a political agreement among Yemeni parties to establish a roadmap for peace. It stands beside the Yemeni people, supporting their legitimate aspirations for development and prosperity within the framework of its policy to promote the interests of the region’s people.
Despite these efforts and contributions to peace in Yemen, some organizations and media entities funded for propaganda purposes are actively disseminating false information to tarnish the image and role of the UAE. A striking example of these allegations is the BBC’s documentary titled “American Mercenaries,” which claimed the existence of suspicious UAE activities in Yemen without substantial evidence.
Bloggers and Twitter users have highlighted contradictions and inaccuracies in the documentary, including the mix-up of names and unsupported allegations. The documentary’s credibility is further questioned by featuring individuals associated with the Muslim Brotherhood, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the UAE.
On the contrary, the UAE’s actions on the ground paint a different picture. Recent high-level discussions between Yemen’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Ahmed bin Mubarak, and UAE Ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed Al-Zaabi, reaffirmed Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to enhance brotherly relations and align positions on mutual concerns.
These discussions emphasized the importance of supporting the Yemeni government in regaining state institutions and bolstering its capabilities to ensure national security and stability. The UAE Ambassador reiterated his country’s unwavering support for Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, its legitimate government, and efforts to achieve peace under the auspices of the United Nations.
Despite facing systematic destruction by Houthi and Al-Qaeda militants, the UAE has remained steadfast in its humanitarian stance towards the Yemeni people, providing extensive support for their relief and reconstruction. Over the past eight years, the UAE has constructed housing, schools, and hospitals, and provided financial aid to Yemeni institutions, totaling around 22.97 billion AED from 2015 to 2021, with ongoing assistance in various sectors through 2022 and 2023.
In recent projects, the UAE has undertaken the construction and rehabilitation of eight medical facilities in Hadhramaut, including the National Blood Transfusion and Research Center, to enhance the state’s institutional capabilities. Additionally, UAE’s Red Crescent mobile clinics treated over 13,000 patients in Hadhramaut in 2023 alone.
In education, the UAE, through its Red Crescent, has built numerous schools in Yemen’s liberated areas, including over 346 schools between 2015 and 2019. The 2023/2024 academic year saw the opening of several schools in Yemen with Emirati support.
The UAE’s comprehensive approach in Yemen, covering political, security, developmental, and humanitarian aspects, has been instrumental in aiding the country through its crisis. This multifaceted support, often misrepresented or overlooked by certain media outlets, highlights the UAE’s significant role in promoting peace and stability in Yemen.
