UAE Official Says Saudi Arabia Must Choose Its Own Response to Houthi Attacks

Official Remarks at Dubai Majlis

At the UAE Correspondents’ Majlis in Dubai on Thu 15 Oct 2026, 2:52 PM, Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council, stated that Saudi Arabia must determine its own response to the recent Houthi attacks and decide what assistance it wishes to seek from other countries.

He added that the United Arab Emirates regards Saudi Arabia’s security as an essential component of its own national security.

Assessment of the Houthi Threat

Dr Al Nuaimi condemned the widening scope of Houthi strikes against Saudi Arabia, noting that attacks have hit Riyadh and other locations.

He stressed that any decision on how to counter these attacks, including whether to request external support and the form such support might take, must originate from Saudi Arabia itself.

The official clarified that it is not for the United Arab Emirates to decide on Saudi Arabia’s behalf whether to launch military operations against the Houthis, and said the Emirates respects the Kingdom’s choices on how to address the threat.

At the same time, he emphasised that Saudi Arabia’s security remains a matter of considerable importance to the UAE because of the close relationship between the two countries.

Recent Escalation and Specific Strikes

The remarks came amid a sharp increase in Houthi aggression toward Saudi Arabia.

A strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10 resulted in at least 13 fatalities and over 300 injuries.

Other airports and oil installations have also been hit, with Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran being struck on October 13.

Historical Context and UAE Position on Yemen

During the discussion, Dr Al Nuaimi recalled the Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi on January 17, 2022, and the Emirates’ subsequent response.

He said the United Arab Emirates had acted independently and maintained that the Houthis were aware of the consequences of targeting the Emirates.

The January 17 assault caused three deaths and six injuries after strikes hit an industrial area in Musaffah and a construction site at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Explaining the UAE’s stance, Dr Al Nuaimi outlined the country’s earlier military involvement in Yemen alongside Saudi Arabia and the varying circumstances under which Emirati forces operated there.

Emirati forces took part in anti‑Houthi operations in Aden and Bab Al Mandab while also assisting in the defence of Saudi territory.

He also mentioned the Stockholm Agreement on Yemen, reached in December 2018, and noted the UAE’s later military withdrawal.

In 2019 the Emirates carried out a major redeployment of its troops from Yemen, keeping specialised personnel for counter‑terrorism duties.

On January 2, 2026, the UAE Ministry of Defence announced that all remaining Emirati military personnel had finished withdrawing from Yemen.

The UAE Correspondents’ Majlis was arranged by the National Media Authority to serve as a forum for dialogue between senior officials and representatives of international media organisations present in the country.