From the Depths of the Red Sea: UAE Preparing for Offensive Against the Houthis
NYN | Reports and Analyses
New signs point to escalating military activity in the Red Sea, as the U.S.-based Associated Press revealed today the construction of a modern airstrip on Yemen’s Zuqar Island — a move described as potentially shifting the balance of control in one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the agency shows that the new runway — approximately 2,000 meters long — is being built on the volcanic island located about 90 kilometers southeast of the city of Al-Hudaydah. The site is considered strategic, overseeing the entrance to the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.
According to the report, construction began in April with the establishment of a seaport dock, followed by land leveling and asphalt layering through late August. October satellite images show continued work and the placement of final markings on the runway.
The agency suggests that this development is likely the latest move by forces opposed to the Sanaa government — supported by regional actors — referring specifically to UAE-backed military formations stationed on the island.
Associated Press notes that this project adds to a growing network of airstrips and military bases the UAE has established in several areas along Yemen’s coasts and islands over recent years, including in Mocha, Dhubab, Mayun Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Abd al-Kuri Island in the Socotra Archipelago.
The agency quotes Italian analyst Eleonora Ardemagni, who suggested that the developments on Zuqar Island may signal preparations for a new military campaign against the Houthis (Sanaa forces). However, she also noted that a primary objective could be the surveillance of maritime routes and the fight against smuggling activities in the Red Sea — particularly arms smuggling.
The report added that ship-tracking data showed the Batsa, a Togo-flagged cargo vessel operated by a Dubai-based shipping company, remained anchored off the island for an entire week after arriving from Berbera Port in Somaliland. Both DP World and local authorities declined to comment on the nature of the activities.
Meanwhile, Dubai-based SAFE Maritime Shipping and Services acknowledged receiving a request to deliver a shipment of asphalt to the island “on behalf of other Emirati companies,” which are believed to be involved in constructing the new runway.
Associated Press concludes that the current developments reignite long-standing questions about the UAE’s role in Yemen’s islands and ports — and whether these runway constructions form part of a broader long-term strategy to strengthen its military influence across critical maritime routes stretching from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean.
