UAE abruptly cuts aid to vital hospitals after withdrawing from Yemen

The sudden exit of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Yemen early this month came with a decision to end years of humanitarian support for key hospitals, abruptly cutting off access to specialised healthcare for many Yemenis.

The UAE withdrew its forces after its separatist allies, the Southern Transitional Council, were routed in southern Yemen as Riyadh sharply opposed the Emirati role in the STC’s seizure of territory under the control of the Saudi-backed government.

UAE-funded hospitals played a vital role for Yemenis after more than a decade of conflict had damaged public health infrastructure and left many unable to afford private healthcare.

Patients from far and wide sought these these facilities in search of high-quality, free healthcare. Many undertake long journeys to access specialised surgeries that are unavailable in public hospitals and prohibitively expensive in private clinics.

Lutf al-Qaheri, a 59-year-old kidney patient, travelled five hours to receive treatment at the 2nd of December Hospital in the Red Sea port city of Mocha.

The hospital, which was built by the UAE and opened in late 2024, has quickly become a lifeline for communities along Yemen’s west coast.

Qaheri had been on a waiting list for surgery for two months when the UAE terminated the contract of the Indian company managing the hospital’s specialised services, prompting the immediate departure of the Indian medical team.

“There is a long waiting list, and they process patients in order. My turn was scheduled for January 5th, but I was informed it was cancelled because the specialised doctors had left the hospital,” he told Middle East Eye.

“The hospital remains open and Yemeni doctors are present, but there are no specialists left to perform the surgery I need. We have no choice but to wait.”

Qaheri’s surgery would cost $1,500 at a private hospital, an impossible sum for an unemployed man in a country where public hospitals lack the necessary equipment.

“This hospital provided unique care for the needy. I call on both the UAE and Saudi Arabia to ensure the specialists return,” he said.

The 2nd of December Hospital and the Shabwah Hospital are just two of dozens of UAE-funded projects halted this month. 

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) has pledged a 1.9 billion Saudi riyal ($500m) package to support these hospitals and other vital sectors, like electricity and infrastructure.

However, the transition has yet to materialise. Facilities still lack the specialised staff needed for complex procedures, leaving patients in a dangerous limbo.

Mocha is controlled by the Republic Guards under Tareq Saleh, the nephew of the assassinated former president Abdullah Saleh. While Saleh was initially backed by the UAE and aligned with the STC, he has since moved closer to the Riyadh-based leadership.

According to interviews with local sources, the UAE only implemented projects in areas with an Emirati military presence or under the control of its direct proxies.

Saudi Arabia takes over

Not everyone blames the UAE for the current crisis.

Hussein Ahmed, a retired Yemeni who could not afford his wife’s medical treatment, had spent months searching for a way to fund her surgery. Eventually, a friend directed him to the UAE-funded Qabool Hospital in Taiz.

“I took my wife to the hospital to see if they could help. I was surprised by how the doctors welcomed us. They performed the surgery, provided medication, and everything was free of charge,” Ahmed told MEE.

He described the level of support as “unbelievable”.

“I am in my 60s, and I have never seen a hospital in Yemen provide such high-quality healthcare for free. I am grateful to the doctors and the hospital’s supporters.”

Ahmed described the suspension of hospital funding as an expected outcome of the current political climate.

“The UAE is not responsible for us indefinitely. They acted at the request of our government; so, when they are no longer welcome in Yemen and choose to leave, it is only normal. That doesn’t mean we will forget or deny the help they provided,” Ahmed saud.

A doctor at the 2nd of December Hospital said the facility remains open.

“The current issue stems from the termination of the contract with the Indian medical company,” the doctor told MEE on condition of anonymity as he is not allowed to speak to the press.

“We were informed that the UAE will no longer fund the hospital, but I want to reassure the public that Saudi Arabia has announced its support. We have already begun coordinating that transition.”

The doctor confirmed that the Saudi development programme has begun supporting the hospital, and surgeries will soon resume at their previous capacity. He said the facility is currently in a “transition period”.

He also expressed frustration with those trying to use the hospital’s situation for political leverage.

“Regardless of any political disputes, we welcome any country or organisation that can support this hospital and help Yemenis receive high-quality medical care,” the doctor said.

Militarisation of aid

Others, however, see the move as a calculated political blow.

Yemeni journalist Mohammed Sultan, who has visited several UAE-funded projects including the 2nd of December Hospital, said that it appears that the UAE’s priority was its military footprint and gaining popularity rather than the welfare of Yemenis.

“The fact that they terminated these contracts the moment they were asked to leave proves it was the ‘militarization of aid’. They only support us if if we allow them to pursue their own agenda in Yemen,” Sultan told MEE.

“The UAE could have withdrawn its military forces while maintaining its humanitarian support, especially for hospitals. Ethical standards dictate that aid should continue until another donor is prepared to take over.”

Sultan noted that while the Abu Dhabi initially gained support in some areas, that goodwill evaporated as soon as the aid was abruptly cut off.

Following the UAE’s withdrawal from Yemen, public anger has spread. Many Yemenis now accuse the Gulf state of undermining the country and using humanitarian aid solely to advance its military objectives.

While Sultan was grateful that Saudi Arabia has promptly took over the funding of the projects abandoned by the UAE, he noted that the damage has already been done.

“Many countries have helped Yemen for years, but none have terminated medical contracts so suddenly, leaving patients on the operating table.”