Barran Press
Sana'a, Yemen - UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday, May 23, 2024, reiterated his country's commitment to providing all forms of development and humanitarian support to Yemen in various fields.
This came during his meeting with the Yemeni Foreign Minister in the internationally recognized government Shaheen Al-Zindani, according to the official Yemeni news agency Saba.
"Bin Zayed" also affirmed his country's "firm and supportive stance towards the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, and its stand with the Yemeni people in a way that enhances Yemen's security, stability and territorial integrity."
The two sides discussed, according to Saba, "coordinating positions on issues of common interest and the situation of the Yemeni community in the UAE."
They also touched on "the latest developments in the political, economic, and service conditions in our country and the efforts made to end human suffering and achieve a just and sustainable peace."
Minister "Al-Zindani" stressed in the meeting the "importance of bilateral work to enhance areas of cooperation, build the capacities of state institutions and qualify their human cadres," according to the agency.
On Monday, May 20, 2024, Head of the Presidential Leadership Council Rashad Al-Alim received the UAE ambassador to Yemen, Mohamed Al-Zaabi, and briefed him on "the latest developments in the Yemeni situation, the support required to strengthen the economic and financial position, improve basic services, and advance comprehensive reforms in the country," according to Saba.
These meetings come at a time when the Yemeni currency is witnessing a continuous decline against foreign currencies, which has led to a decline in basic services in the areas of the Yemeni government, most notably electricity, which has sparked popular protests in recent days in the city of Aden, which is declared the temporary capital of the country, and in the Socotra Archipelago Governorate (southern Yemen).
In April 2022, Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced a grant to support the Yemeni economy of $3 billion, after the formation of the "Presidential Leadership Council," but it is conditional on a radical reform program that the government has not been able to implement so far, and there has been no improvement in the economic situation in the country, especially the local currency.
The Yemeni government hopes that Saudi Arabia (leader of the pro-legitimacy coalition) and the UAE (the second country in the coalition) will help it to confront the economic situation that has worsened with the targeting by the Houthi group, classified internationally as a terrorist organization, of oil export ports in the eastern provinces, depriving the government of fuel sales revenues from foreign currency.