Gulf Rift Widens: Yemen Southern Leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi Reportedly Exfiltrated to UAE by Abu Dhabi Forces
Published Date: 8th Jan, 2026
January 08, 2026
The deepening divide between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over Yemen exploded into open confrontation Wednesday night, as southern separatist leader Aidarous al-Zubaidi was allegedly smuggled out of the country and flown to Abu Dhabi in a covert operation blamed on UAE officers.
Covert Extraction: From Aden Port to Abu Dhabi Runway
According to the Saudi-led coalition, al-Zubaidi slipped out of Aden under cover of darkness aboard a ship bound for Berbera in Somaliland. Accompanied by UAE personnel, he then transferred to an aircraft that made a brief stop in Mogadishu before heading to a military airfield in the Emirati capital.
Tracking data showed the plane temporarily switching off its transponder over the Gulf of Oman, a tactic often used in sensitive flights, before resuming signals near its destination. The entire journey unfolded mere hours after al-Zubaidi failed to appear at urgent mediation talks in Riyadh.
Treason Charge and Immediate Fallout
Riyadh swiftly removed al-Zubaidi from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, accusing him of high treason for allegedly orchestrating armed rebellion. Saudi-backed troops moved quickly to secure strategic points in Aden, reclaiming areas recently taken by separatist forces.
The coalition pointedly blamed the UAE for masterminding the escape, marking a rare public accusation between the two Gulf powers once aligned against the Houthis.
The Southern Transitional Council, which al-Zubaidi heads, offered no confirmation of his location, though prior messages claimed he was still directing operations inside Yemen.
Roots of the Split: Separatist Gains Spark Crisis
Tensions boiled over last month when STC fighters captured large swaths of southern territory, alarming Saudi Arabia over potential threats to its southern border security.
Riyadh launched airstrikes and bolstered loyalist ground forces, retaking provinces like Hadramout and al-Mahra. Al-Zubaidi's decision to boycott the Riyadh summit, citing personal risks, precipitated his ouster and the treason allegations.
Cracks in the Separatist Front
Adding complexity, a Southern Transitional Council delegation held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh, describing the meetings as constructive and centered on southern concerns. Reports suggest some STC units have defected or stood down as pro-government advances continue.
Long supported by the UAE, the STC seeks to revive an independent south Yemen, reminiscent of the pre-unification era before 1990.
Broader Implications: Strained Alliances and Yemen's Chaos
The episode lays bare unprecedented friction between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, whose diverging visions for Yemen have increasingly pulled them apart despite shared interests elsewhere.
With al-Zubaidi apparently under UAE protection and no official Emirati response forthcoming, prospects for coordinated action against Houthi forces grow dimmer.
Amid one of the planet's most severe humanitarian disasters, this dramatic flight threatens to prolong fragmentation, undermine fragile governance structures, and redraw influence maps across the Arabian Peninsula.
As battlefield shifts continue and diplomatic channels strain, the region braces for whether cooler heads prevail or the Gulf schism deepens into lasting rupture.
Date: 8th Jan, 2026
