The Armored Room in Yemen: A Secret Emirati Command Center Managing Wars in Sudan and the Region
NYN | Reports and Analyses
In recent hours, southern journalist Anis Mansour revealed exclusive information about one of the most mysterious and secretive Emirati military bases in the region, located deep in Yemen’s desert in a rugged area known as Mara in Shabwa Governorate.
Commonly referred to simply as “Site C”, the base—according to field reports and intelligence testimonies—serves as the hidden brain behind Abu Dhabi’s military and intelligence operations, not only in Yemen but also in Sudan and the Horn of Africa.
According to Mansour, this base does not appear on official maps, and Yemenis have no knowledge of what goes on inside it.
Since the UAE seized control of it in 2022, it has been transformed into a fortified underground facility equipped with tunnels, operation rooms, and satellite communications systems. It operates independently and receives direct orders from Abu Dhabi, without oversight from Yemen’s internationally recognized authorities.
In the past two years, satellite imagery has shown the site expanding nearly threefold, adding dirt airstrips, weapons depots, and underground facilities believed to house advanced surveillance and communication systems. Two airstrips and large areas for vehicles and equipment suggest that it functions as a regional command hub, enabling the UAE to operate as an independent military power.
“A Base Unlike Any Traditional Military Base”
Images reveal a deliberate distribution of facilities: scattered hangars and warehouses to reduce the impact of any concentrated strike, dirt barriers and bunkers protecting sensitive points, and openings on nearby hills indicating underground structures with continuous activity.
According to sources, this configuration makes the base a regional command center overseeing independent Emirati operations that go beyond its alliance with Saudi Arabia.
The imagery also shows two runways in the surrounding area—one long enough for light aircraft, helicopters, or large drones, and another shorter one likely used for small aircraft or as a taxiway for support vehicles. Nearby flat areas and open spaces suggest the site functions as an aerial launch and reception point.
“A Logistics Platform for Smuggling Weapons to Sudan”
According to Yemeni and Western intelligence sources, Site C has become a logistical platform managed by the UAE to supply large quantities of weapons to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti).
Reports indicate that advanced weapons—including guided bombs and howitzers—are transported through Shabwa’s coasts, then to Eritrea, and finally to Darfur.
The network uses multiple methods to obscure the weapons’ final destination—through front companies, intermediate trade records, and transit routes via third countries—allowing the UAE to manage the war from behind the scenes while denying any involvement internationally.
“Complex Operations and Logistical Laundering”
The process begins with the purchase of military components through official and unofficial markets in Yemen, which are then transferred through local intermediaries and small ports before being redirected to Sudan.
Local intermediaries—familiar with tribal routes and terrain—facilitate the transport, concealment, or redirection of shipments, adding layers of protection that make it difficult to trace the weapons’ origin.
Shipping and export documents are systematically altered using front company contracts and temporary re-export licenses, concealing the true nature of the cargo. This gives the UAE room to maneuver diplomatically while quietly conducting wars across the region.
“An Integrated Network of Bases”
Site C is not the only Emirati base. Another known as “The Red Gate”, located at Riyan Airport in Mukalla, functions as an intelligence coordination center directly linked to Site C.
Together, these facilities allow the UAE to extend its military influence from the Arabian Sea to the edge of Africa, controlling security networks that reach the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
On the ground, UAE-backed factions and local forces now wield more power than official state institutions. Yemeni soldiers are prohibited from approaching Emirati bases, while separatist flags fly over Aden, Socotra, and Shabwaunder Emirati protection.
“The Human Cost”
In Sudan, the weapons traced back to Site C have caused civilian deaths and mass displacement, as wars are funded and directed from abroad—leaving local populations to pay the price in blood and hunger.
The report illustrates how the UAE operates from the shadows—from Yemen to Sudan and the Horn of Africa—through secret bases and underground tunnels, fueling conflicts and expanding its influence while maintaining an international image as a peace-promoting nation.
Despite its secrecy, satellite monitoring and continuous observation are gradually exposing the UAE’s role in these regional wars, raising serious questions about the nature of its involvement in both local and regional conflicts.
