UAE Ministry Of Defence Refutes Claims Of Weapons At Riyan Airport Following Yemen Withdrawal

The Ministry of Defence of the United Arab Emirates states that claims about weapons and explosives found at Riyan Airport in Mukalla are false. Officials say the accusations, raised by Hadramawt Governor Salem Al-Khanbashi in a press conference, lack any supporting proof and misrepresent the role of the UAE Armed Forces in Yemen.

The Ministry explains that UAE forces finished their full, declared withdrawal from Yemen on 3rd December 2025. This exit, it says, involved documented removal and handover of all equipment, weapons and related assets under recognised military procedures, leaving no remaining Emirati military, logistical or technical footprint on Yemeni territory.

According to the Ministry, the Riyan Airport allegations are "entirely unfounded" and mislead public opinion. The statement describes the narrative about seized weapons and explosives supposedly linked to the UAE as baseless, and as an effort to distort verifiable facts and harm the established reputation of the UAE Armed Forces and their record in Yemen.

Addressing reports of so-called "secret prisons" at Riyan Airport, the Ministry describes the claim as deliberate fabrication and misinformation. It says the facilities mentioned are standard military accommodation, operations centres and protected shelters, including underground structures, which are common features of airports and military sites worldwide and have no purpose beyond normal operational needs.

The Ministry of Defence says attempts to associate the United Arab Emirates with such narratives raise serious concerns about the real motives and actors promoting them. It considers the campaign a clear political move that seeks to damage the image of the UAE and overlook the sacrifices of its soldiers supporting Yemen’s security and stability over more than ten years.

In its response, the Ministry stresses that the press conference by Salem Al-Khanbashi relied on misleading and inaccurate information. Officials emphasise that the UAE Armed Forces operated within recognised frameworks during their Yemen deployment and exit, and that the current accusations do not reflect the documented record of actions undertaken in support of Yemen.

With inputs from WAM