One of the most serious human rights files linked to the UAE’s role in Yemen has come to light in the governorates of Hadramawt and Shabwah, following the discovery of underground secret prisons inside sovereign sites—most notably Al-Rayyan Airport, Al-Dhabba Port, and the Balhaf facility. These revelations have reignited concerns over torture and enforced disappearances carried out entirely outside any legal framework.

According to reliable information and security officials in the internationally recognized government, the prisons were uncovered after the withdrawal of UAE forces and formations affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council. Inspections revealed deep, carefully concealed detention facilities, as well as documents, photographs, and flash drives documenting their use over recent years.

Explosives and Prisons Inside a Civilian Airport

Officials from the internationally recognized government confirmed the discovery of quantities of explosives and detonators of Emirati origin inside Al-Rayyan Airport, which—according to testimonies—were prepared for carrying out assassinations.

Secret detention sites were also documented within the airport itself, constituting a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the unlawful use of civilian facilities for security purposes.

Sources reported that some of these prisons were dug to depths of approximately 15 meters underground, stretching 60 to 70 meters in length. They were distributed in areas near the coast and others among trees to ensure complete camouflage and evade oversight.

A Detention Network Under Abu Dhabi’s Oversight

Security and human rights testimonies indicate that these prisons were run under the direct supervision of security leaders backed by Abu Dhabi, in coordination with local security formations, entirely outside the authority of the judiciary and prosecution.

The violations reportedly included severe torture, enforced disappearances, and the detention of civilians without any legal justification.

In this context, media sources spoke of the role of commanders within what was known as the “Security Belt Forces” in Hadramawt, which managed a network of secret prisons in multiple areas, most notably Al-Dhabba and Al-Rayyan Airport. Testimonies documenting the torture of abductees and the prevention of any independent monitoring or documentation were also recorded.

Al-Dhabba and Balhaf: A Repeated Crime

The violations were not limited to Al-Rayyan Airport. Images and information revealed the existence of undeclared detention facilities inside the Al-Dhabba oil port, some of which were later deliberately obscured to erase evidence of the crime.

Sources also disclosed secret detention sites within the Balhaf facility in Shabwah Governorate, fully concealed beneath existing structures and constructed by known companies and contractors.

Dozens Enforcedly Disappeared

Human rights sources confirmed that dozens of enforcedly disappeared individuals were held in these prisons, with their fate still unknown to this day, since UAE forces entered the Hadramawt coast in 2016. Families have reported losing contact with their sons for years without any official information—an offense meeting all the elements of a crime under international definitions.

Calls for Investigation and Accountability

Security officials and human rights activists have called for an independent international investigation and a comprehensive search of these secret prisons, describing them as “material evidence of grave crimes that may amount to crimes against humanity.” They warned of the possibility that some victims were buried at these sites to conceal traces of the crimes.

Explicit Condemnation

These findings—supported by photos, documents, and testimonies—reveal the direct involvement of the United Arab Emirates in establishing and operating a system of secret prisons inside Yemen, in a blatant violation of the country’s sovereignty, international law, and human rights.

This necessitates legal accountability, comprehensive prosecution, and justice for the victims who suffered for years in the shadows.