“Completely unfounded”: UAE Ministry of Defence denies Yemen Riyan Airport weapons allegations

The UAE Ministry of Defence has firmly rejected allegations of weapons, explosives, and secret prisons at Riyan Airport in Mukalla, Yemen. The Ministry confirmed that all Emirati forces and equipment withdrew from Yemen on 2 January 2026. Officials called the claims unfounded and politically motivated, emphasizing that the facilities in question are standard military structures with no hidden purpose.