Aden Airport closed Jan. 1, 2026, amid Saudi-UAE tensions after a strike on Mukalla and UAE forces withdrew.

Aden International Airport in Yemen shut down on January 1, 2026, amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The closure followed Saudi-imposed flight restrictions, which the UAE-aligned Yemeni transport minister and Southern Transitional Council rejected, leading to a full halt in operations. The rift intensified after a Saudi-led airstrike on a Mukalla port, which Riyadh said was supporting separatists. In response, the UAE announced the withdrawal of its remaining forces from Yemen, underscoring how regional rivalries continue to disrupt stability in southern Yemen’s war-torn region.