Yemen president visits UAE for first time since dispute

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi headed to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday for his first official visit since a crisis in his relations with Abu Dhabi, whose forces control most of Yemen's southern region as part of a Saudi-led coalition fighting rebels in the country.

The visit, though initiated by Hadi, comes at the official invitation of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed, and is based on consultations with Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz, who appeared to have acted as mediator in calming tensions between the two sides.

Hours before the visit, the UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed visited Hadi at his residence in Saudi Arabia to officially invite him to visit Abu Dhabi.

In recent weeks, Yemen's internationally-recognised government filed an official complaint to the UN Security Council against the UAE, slamming Abu Dhabi's "unjustified military actions" on the Yemeni island of Socotra.

The government of Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi - which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition, of which the UAE plays a pivotal role - submitted the complaint on 5 May.

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"The government of the Republic of Yemen considers the recent military deployment of United Arab Emirates troops and armoured vehicles, including tanks, in the Yemeni island of Socotra on 30 April 2018, as an unjustified military actions," the statement read.

Emirati forces took control of the island's air and sea ports and informed the local authorities - including Yemeni customs, security and intelligence officers - that they are "dismissed until further notice", the statement read.

The UAE - which plays a crucial part in the coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen - is facing widespread criticism among Yemenis and politicians alike, after it deployed hundreds of soldiers to Socotra.

The apparent surprise deployment was carried out without the knowledge of the Hadi government, which controls the island, a Yemeni government source said.

Residents of the island were angry over the UAE's "occupation" of Socotra, arguing that there were no Houthi rebels on the island to justify such a deployment.

The seizure of the airport and the seaport of Socotra "does not fall within the parameters" of Arab coalition operations, the statement added.

The dispute was declared "over" by Yemen's Prime Minister Ahmed bin Dagher just a few weeks later, who said the crisis had "almost divided" the Saudi-led Arab coalition fighting Yemen's Houthi rebels.

The deal stipulated the two countries' troops will withdraw from Socotra and Yemeni forces will be stationed at the island's airport and port.

Although the UAE has played a role in the Saudi-led coalition, it also recently distanced itself from Riyadh-based President Hadi.

The Emiratis have instead been expanding their influence in southern Yemen, and also back separatists who wrenched control of the south of the country from Hadi in January.

Yemen's president - who has been stationed in Riyadh since the Houthis overran the capital and other major cities - had requested the aid of the coalition to push back the Houthi rebels in 2014.

The coalition's intervention in Yemen has left more than 10,000 dead, and heavily contributed to what the UN has described as "the world's worst humanitarian crisis".