UAE Fast-Tracks Development of Joint Military Base with Israel in Yemen’s Socotra
It has been disclosed that the UAE is expediting the construction of a joint military base with Israel in Yemen’s Socotra Archipelago, a strategically significant location in the Indian Ocean.
According to the Lebanese Al-Akhbar newspaper, the UAE has aimed to dominate the Socotra Archipelago since the onset of the conflict in Yemen in 2015.
This project is part of a broader alliance established between Israel and several Arab nations, particularly from the Gulf, under American auspices. The archipelago and other Yemeni islands and ports play a pivotal role in this alliance.
The urgency to solidify this coalition has intensified, particularly following the “Al-Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, which has accelerated the development of an Emirati-Israeli military base on Abdul Kuri Island, the archipelago’s second-largest island after Socotra.
Despite efforts to keep Israel’s involvement discreet, the ultimate aim of the project is to integrate the military and security services of Israel and the participating Arab countries under the umbrella of the American Central Command.
This intention was first evidenced during a “secret” meeting in Manama on June 22, which included the Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, US Central Command leader Michael Corella, and military leaders from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan. They discussed the “successful experience” of cooperation among these armies in countering the Iranian missile and drone attack on Israel during the night of April 14-15.
What is the Socotra Archipelago?
The Socotra Archipelago is one of Yemen’s 22 governorates, situated in the northwest Indian Ocean off the coast of Al-Mahra Governorate. It comprises the islands of Socotra, Abd Al-Kuri, Samha, Darsa, Karael Pharaoh, and Sayal.The closest point on the Yemeni mainland to the archipelago is Ras Fartak in Al-Mahra Governorate, located 345 kilometers away. The islands are 900 kilometers from Aden and 150 kilometers from Cape Asir on the African coast of Somalia.
Socotra holds strategic importance in the US defense and internal security strategy, with the US naval strategy in the Middle East prioritizing the archipelago in its military naval planning.
According to the theory of US Navy geostrategic expert Alfred Mahan, controlling maritime sovereignty in the Indian Ocean positions a nation as a major player in the global system, and whoever controls the Indian Ocean holds sway over Asia.
Several studies affirm that controlling Socotra and the surrounding maritime regions enables control over the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea, northern Indian Ocean, southern Arabian Peninsula, southeastern Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
The Emirati presence in Socotra coexists with a larger, albeit less mobile, Saudi military presence. This dynamic reflects underlying competition within the coalition, mirroring similar tensions seen in other regions where both nations maintain a presence, including the Yemeni mainland.
It is difficult to imagine Riyadh letting Abu Dhabi take control of Socotra, if the latter tries to go beyond the requirements of the alliance that includes them.
The UAE has taken extensive measures to gain control of the Socotra Archipelago. It recruited 900 young men from the island and transferred them to the Emirates, rather than deploying them locally, to tie their livelihoods to the UAE. These recruits send remittances to their families on the island, which has a population of approximately 90,000 people.
The country also operates a cell phone network affiliated with Zain, as if it were part of the company’s network in the Emirates itself.
Israel does not have a direct presence in the Socotra Archipelago. However, activities in the region are designed to serve its security interests through its Emirati ally. Israel provides most of the intelligence information to those combating the “Ansar Allah” movement in Yemen while avoiding direct involvement in the confrontation.
In this context, coordination can be established with groups loyal to the UAE in Yemen, to reignite the fighting in the south, and deter the movement from targeting Israeli shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Saudi and Emirati Presence in Socotra
A Saudi military brigade is stationed on Socotra Island, equipped with full personnel and supplies. Initially, this brigade consisted of approximately 850 soldiers and officers. Once control over the island was secured, Saudi soldiers began rotating service, with 120 soldiers on two-month leaves and replacements arriving.
While Saudi aviation initially organized daily flights at the beginning of the occupation, it now operates a flight every two days from the Kingdom to the island.
Riyadh also has three communications towers for its forces, each accompanied by a military site. The headquarters of the Saudi Military Brigade is located in an area called Muri, adjacent to Hadibu Airport, the capital of Socotra.
Additionally, the Kingdom maintains another site within the General Authority for Environmental Protection in Hadibu, positioned at the city’s western entrance. The island’s port is under Saudi control, with a Saudi military center located there as well.
On the other hand, UAE forces are stationed at Socotra Airport, located 12 kilometers from Hadibu, and at a significant site in the port of Hulaf, which is a large complex affiliated with the UAE.
Due to the substantial Saudi military presence on Socotra, the UAE has shifted its focus to Abdul Kuri Island, where it has been constructing a military base since 2021, described as Emirati-Israeli. There are plans to transfer UAE forces from Socotra to this new base.
The direct Emirati military presence in Socotra is minimal, with only five to seven personnel stationed there. Instead, Abu Dhabi is using a different strategy to exert control by recruiting a specialized local force called the “Security Belt,” comprising 250 individuals. This force operates independently from the Socotra conscripts stationed in the Emirates.
Abu Dhabi is actively involved on the island through its representative from the Emirates Red Crescent, Abu Mubarak Khalfan Al Mazrouei, as well as through initiatives by the Khalifa Foundation and the Emirati military and security representative, Abu Rashid.
Emirati control is effectively maintained through the Southern Transitional Council, which administers and secures the island under the leadership of the coalition-appointed governor, Raafat Ibrahim. According to the governor appointed by Sanaa, Hashem Saad Al-Soqatri, there is a role exchange between the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, Abu Dhabi leverages the 900 recruits as a means of exerting pressure on the island’s community. By linking each recruit to a specific family, the UAE secures the loyalty of approximately 900 families. This recruitment strategy is used to apply pressure in case any tribes or families attempt to resist Abu Dhabi’s influence.
The Emirati presence in Socotra is concentrated in an area known as “Shaiq,” which means “market” in the Socotra (Mahari) language. The Emiratis are also active at the “Al-Wali” fish factory, which they purchased. This factory, located 4 kilometers east of Hadibu near the port, has been converted into a barracks and main center, along with a camp for the “Security Belt” force.
While the United States and Israel do not maintain a permanent or visible presence in Socotra, American and British delegations occasionally visit via private planes under Emirati or Saudi cover. These visits are brief, lasting only a few hours.
During these visits, American personnel have overseen the rehabilitation of two key sites previously owned by the Soviet Union. The first site is located in Ras Maufi, a highland in the eastern part of the island overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The second site is situated at Ras Qattainan in the west, overlooking the Indian Ocean and the entrance to the Gulf of Aden.
The two sites, once equipped with significant Soviet radars for monitoring the Indian Ocean, are now managed by the UAE. Over the past year and a half, the UAE has been developing a radar station at these locations. This station is intended to oversee maritime traffic in the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea, and the entrance to the Gulf of Aden. Their strategic importance ensures that these sites are pivotal for tracking and monitoring all movements in and around the Gulf of Aden.
Given the strategic significance of the Socotra Archipelago, the UAE, in collaboration with its allies, aims to secure control over the archipelago to integrate it with its ports and military bases in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Horn of Africa. This move seeks to establish comprehensive military, economic, and navigational control extending from the northern Arabian Sea to the Gulf of Aden, and reaching through to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez.
Finally, satellite images from the “Planet” website revealed the development of construction operations at the Emirati military base on Abdul Kuri Island (populated by 1,400 people), which includes a military airport on which construction is still ongoing, knowing that the island also contains Emirati-Israeli military and intelligence facilities.
The UAE established the military base and several experimental aircraft runways in Yarra, where satellite images revealed construction movements and paving operations for the UAE air base road.
The open-source intelligence website ICAD also revealed that the UAE base in Abdul Kuri receives a continuous flow of shipments, while unidentified ships participate in activities close to it.
These developments, coupled with commercial activities, raise concerns about potential military strategies being pursued under the cover of routine commercial operations, aimed at advancing regional agendas.
The Ship “Takreem”
Following the events of October 7, the naval landing ship “Takreem,” flying the UAE flag, was observed heading towards Abdul Kuri Island.
Designed for the transportation and deployment of soldiers, military equipment, and vehicles during offensive operations, the ship departed from Port Zayed in Abu Dhabi on December 21, 2023. It arrived at Socotra Island on December 29, 2023, and stayed there until January 7, 2024.
The “Takreem” then proceeded west to Abdul Kuri Island, where it anchored until January 11, before returning to Socotra Island and ultimately departing for the UAE on January 18, 2024. The ship’s arrival at Abdul Kuri was first reported on November 20, 2021.
On November 26, it obscured its signal while docked at the island, only to reappear on December 25 in the Arabian Sea, heading north—an action that suggested possible suspicious activity.
Reports indicate that the ship’s missions were intended to transport military supplies and specialized personnel involved in the development of the UAE base.
After the necessary construction equipment arrived, the UAE began building a military runway on the island, and the news was published in the local Yemeni press.
It is notable that the “Takreem” also played a role in the development and construction of the runway at the port of Mocha on the Red Sea in October 2021. The ship ceased visits to the port once the runway construction was completed, indicating that its primary function is related to military transportation, including the delivery of building materials and personnel.
Also, another ship, different from the “Takreem”, was spotted near Abdul Kuri Island. However, its identity is unknown, which suggests a deliberate attempt to hide its activities.
This ship had previously been spotted off the Yemeni coast on January 10, 2024, as it approached the shores of Abdul Kuri, but it did not dock on the island for reasons that may be due to the incomplete infrastructure to receive it.
Therefore, its cargo was unloaded in two stages: in the first, smaller multi-purpose vessels transported the cargo closer to the coast; in the second, the loads were transported to the island with the help of hand boats.
New Facilities
Following October 7, a new pier was constructed on Abdul Kuri Island, measuring approximately 120 meters in length and 5 meters in width. This development followed the earlier construction of two piers: one in April 2023, located northeast of the base, and another in May 2023, situated north of the island’s central area. However, these two earlier piers were dismantled after the “Al-Aqsa Flood” battle, leading to the establishment of the new naval dock.
The strategic placement of the piers highlights two main goals. The new southern pier, situated on elevated terrain, aims to enhance security by minimizing exposure to potential attacks from the Yemeni “Ansar Allah” movement. This location provides better protection compared to the northern piers.
Additionally, the new dock’s broader beach and deeper waters facilitate the accommodation of larger ships and a higher volume of supplies. This upgrade offers significant logistical benefits, supporting more efficient operations and greater cargo handling capabilities.
A helicopter landing pad was constructed north of the main runway after October 7, and the length of the runway was increased by about 120 meters, to 3 kilometers.
This expansion allows it to accommodate larger American military cargo planes and strategic bombers, such as the American C-5M Super Galaxy and B1 bombers that were recently used in retaliatory attacks in Syria and Iraq.
Additionally, new housing and infrastructure have been developed around the base. This includes residential units situated centrally on the island, surrounded by construction equipment and accommodations for workers. There are also additional buildings located northeast of the housing area, approximately 2.5 kilometers from the main runway.
The developments on Abdul Kuri Island have coincided with updates observed at UAE bases in Berbera and Bosaso, Somalia. These bases have previously shown the presence of American military experts, suggesting a broader strategic aim. This alignment of activities reinforces the notion that the developments are part of a Western military integration effort focused on the Bab al-Mandab region.
Israel and the Island’s Developments
An article published by the French-speaking Jewish community website “G Forum” in 2020 stated that the UAE and Israel planned to establish a base on Socotra Island.
On September 9, 2020, the French intelligence website “Intelligence Online” confirmed that officers from the Emirati and Israeli intelligence arrived on the island at the end of August 2020.
The website explained at the time that the Southern Transitional Council was under pressure from the UAE to agree to establish an Emirati-Israeli intelligence base.
A report from the Italian Institute for International Political Studies, published in November 2023, reveals that Socotra Island hosts an Emirati intelligence base equipped with Israeli-made sensors designed to counter Iranian missiles and drones.
