ASIATODAY.ID, YEMEN – Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Yemen have escalated into an open crisis, after Aden International Airport—the main gateway to southern Yemen—was temporarily shut down, throwing air travel into disarray and deepening civilian suffering.
The airport, which is outside the control of the Houthi movement, was closed on Thursday, January 1, 2026 local time, according to multiple sources. The sudden shutdown stranded hundreds of passengers, with crowds filling terminals amid uncertainty over canceled and delayed international flights.
Aden Airport plays a critical role not only as a commercial hub, but also as a lifeline for medical evacuations and humanitarian movement in a country battered by years of war.
The Dispute Behind the Airport Shutdown
At the heart of the crisis lies the growing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over southern Yemen.
Saudi Arabia leads a coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government, while the UAE supports the Southern Transitional Council (STC)—a powerful militia seeking to establish an independent state in southern Yemen.
Yemeni sources said flights to and from Aden later resumed for most international destinations, except routes to the UAE. However, Reuters said it was unable to independently verify that information.
The Yemeni Ministry of Transport, which is under the control of the STC, accused Saudi Arabia of imposing an air blockade, claiming Riyadh required all flights passing through Saudi airspace to undergo additional inspections.
In a statement, the ministry said it had formally objected to the restrictions, but Saudi authorities responded that the measures applied only to flights between Aden and the UAE.
Conflicting Claims, Rising Tensions
Saudi sources strongly rejected the accusations, insisting that Riyadh did not shut down the airport. Instead, they blamed Yemen’s own government for imposing restrictions.
“The Yemeni government restricted Aden–UAE flights to ease tensions. Southern transport authorities responded by shutting down all air traffic,” a Saudi source said.
Officials at Yemen’s Ministry of Transport also denied issuing any official decision to close the airport. Meanwhile, Yemen’s internationally recognized leadership—operating from Saudi Arabia after the STC seized much of the south last month—has yet to release an official statement.
A Deepening Gulf Rift in Yemen
The Aden Airport incident highlights the widening fracture between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, once close allies in Yemen. Last month, the UAE-backed STC seized control of large parts of southern Yemen from forces loyal to the Saudi-backed government—a move Riyadh views as a direct threat to Yemen’s unity and regional stability.
As rival Gulf powers increasingly clash through local allies, civilians once again bear the brunt—cut off from medical care, humanitarian aid, and basic mobility—underscoring how Yemen’s war is entering a more volatile and fragmented phase. (AT Network)
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