In response to COVID-19 outbreak in Iran, govt early March assisted with delivering seven tonnes of World Health Organization medical aid and 16 March said it would provide a further 32 tonnes.

Thousands of Emirati soldiers 9 Feb returned from Yemen as part of planned military withdrawal. British law firm Stoke White, invoking principle of universal jurisdiction, 12 Feb requested UK, U.S. and Turkey to open investigations into senior Emirati officials suspected of perpetrating war crimes in Yemen. Govt 3 Feb announced discovery of 80 trillion cubic feet of shallow gas reserves by state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) at Jebel Ali gas field, largest gas discovery in last fifteen years worldwide; ADNOC signed agreement with Dubai Supply Authority to jointly explore gas reserves.

After U.S.’s 3 Jan killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani sparked rise in regional tensions, FM 3 Jan called for “wisdom, balance and political solutions above confrontation and escalation”.

Following Saudi-mediated negotiations, UAE-backed Yemeni southern separatist group Southern Transitional Council 5 Nov signed agreement with Yemeni govt to end hostilities in south. Govt sent players to Gulf Cup football tournament in Qatar to run 24 Nov-8 Dec, which it had previously planned to boycott.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) took steps to improve relations with Iran, continued to withdraw military from Yemen and received visit by Russian President Putin. Iranian MP 20 Oct said UAE had unfrozen $700mn of Iranian funds. UAE forces continued to withdraw from south Yemen, 14 Oct handing over al-Anad international airport near Aden to Saudi forces and 30 Oct completing withdrawal from Aden. In Saudi-mediated negotiations in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi-backed Yemeni govt and UAE-backed southern separatist group Southern Transitional Council (STC) came close to signing agreement that would see southerners gain equal representation with northerners in govt and place in future peace talks with Huthis. Russian President Putin 15 Oct visited Abu Dhabi for first time since 2007; Russian Direct Investment Fund said officials concluded deals worth over $1.3bn in energy, advanced technology and health sectors.

Rift between UAE- and Saudi Arabia-backed forces in Yemen persisted, as Saudi-backed Yemeni govt refused to accept proposed power-sharing deal with Yemen’s southern separatists. In Saudi city of Jeddah, Yemeni govt and UAE-aligned southern separatist group Southern Transitional Council (STC) 4 Sept onward held indirect talks aimed at power-sharing agreement to end fighting, no outcome end-month. Huthis 18 Sept claimed they had identified dozens of potential targets in UAE for drone strikes. Govt condemned 14 Sept attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Emirates News Agency 19 Sept announced UAE would participate in U.S.-led initiative to secure Gulf waters called International Maritime Security Construct. U.S. 20 Sept said it would deploy additional troops and military equipment to Saudi Arabia and UAE in response to countries’ requests for assistance with air and missile defence systems.

Yemen’s southern separatists, trained and equipped by United Arab Emirates (UAE), seized southern city of Aden from Saudi-backed Hadi govt forces, pitting UAE interests against those of Saudi Arabia, which opposes Yemen’s partition. In Yemen, UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) 7-10 Aug seized control of provisional capital Aden and expelled pro-govt forces allied to Riyadh, including armed groups closely associated with Islamist Islah party (see Yemen). High-level delegations from UAE and Saudi Arabia, including UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed and Saudi King Salman, met in Saudi city of Mecca 12 Aug and jointly called for parties to “prioritise dialogue and reason in interest of Yemen”. Following Saudi call for emergency summit on matter in Jeddah, UAE 17 Aug confirmed alignment with Riyadh but did not join Saudi Arabia’s calls for STC to leave Aden. Abu Dhabi 20 Aug rejected Yemeni govt’s accusations that it was supporting secessionists and held Yemeni President Hadi partially responsible for clashes. Saudi and UAE FMs 26 Aug issued joint statement reaffirming coalition’s support to Hadi govt while condemning “defamation” of UAE; Abu Dhabi 28 Aug denied Hadi govt’s allegations of torture in secret prisons. Minister of State al-Sultan al-Jaber 17 Aug attended signing of Sudan’s Transitional Government agreement in Sudanese capital Khartoum.

Govt made public its military drawdown in Yemen and encouraged talks aimed at political transition in Sudan. Govt 22 July publicly acknowledged its military drawdown in Yemen, which it started in April. FM Gargash 22 July reiterated govt’s commitment to political process, described drawdown as “confidence-building measure”, and said UAE and Saudi-led coalition “not leaving Yemen”. By end July, military had reportedly withdrawn 50-75% of its troops, but aimed to retain lead in liaison with and advice to Yemeni forces on Red Sea coast. Following late June visit to capital Abu Dhabi by U.S. Envoy to Sudan Donald Booth, govt and Saudi Arabia early July encouraged leaders of Sudan’s Transitional Military Council and protest movement to engage in talks mediated by African Union and Ethiopia; Emirati and Saudi leaders expressed optimism about 17 July agreement between parties (see Sudan). Rocket carrying UAE surveillance satellite 10 July launched in French Guiana via European Space Agency (ESA) but crashed minutes after take-off, prompting ESA to announce investigation. U.S. Congress 17 July passed resolutions aimed at blocking U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE without congressional approval. UAE and Iranian officials held 6th joint meeting on maritime affairs 30 July in Iranian capital Tehran, first such meeting since 2013.

As tensions continued to rise between U.S. and Iran and their respective allies, United Arab Emirates (UAE) took steps to avoid inflaming situation. While U.S. and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for 13 June attacks on tankers in Gulf of Oman, UAE refrained from attributing blame, pending ongoing investigation. Quad comprising Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and U.S. 22 June expressed concerns over “escalating tensions in the region and the dangers posed by Iranian destabilising activity to peace and security both in Yemen and the broader region” (see Iran). In Yemen, UAE has drawn down some of its forces along Red Sea coast, and removed some military equipment from Hodeida. After Sudanese security forces 3 June attacked protesters in Sudanese capital Khartoum, U.S. official next day called Saudi and UAE govts which support Sudan’s military leadership; both released statements regretting violence and urging Sudan’s military to reopen talks with protesters.

Unidentified attackers 12 May damaged four oil tankers (two Saudi, one Emirati, one Norwegian) near Fujairah port. Govt opened joint investigation with U.S., France and Norway and refrained from attributing blame; U.S. defence officials 24 May said Iran was responsible for attacks. Govt 22 May said it would take part in U.S.-led Palestine investment meeting to be held 25-26 June in Manama, Bahrain, as part of upcoming U.S.-developed Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.