Yemen’s Mercenaries: A Hired Army for Endless Wars

How the UAE and Saudi Arabia turned Yemen into a mercenary battlefield

At the heart of the war that has torn Yemen apart for years, the conflict wasn’t just between the “Arab Coalition” and “Ansar Allah” (the Houthis). A third, shadowy but active party was fighting—not for ideology, but for money: the mercenaries. Men from Colombia and Sudan, from Chad and Niger, and from impoverished Yemeni tribes found themselves in a war that wasn’t theirs, generously funded by the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

“The war in Yemen was the first in modern history to be run by a global mercenary force funded by the Gulf.” — The New York Times, 2018

Where did they come from? Who funded them?

Mercenary recruitment began in 2015 when the UAE hired a private security firm called Black Shield Security Services, an Emirati front used to recruit hundreds of African and Asian youth under the guise of “security jobs.” But once they arrived in the UAE, they were transferred to military camps in Aden and Mocha, where they received combat training under officers from Erik Prince’s company—Prince being the infamous founder of Blackwater.

“The UAE recruited mercenaries from Colombia and South Africa through private security firms to fight its war in Yemen.” — Reuters, 2019

Funding came directly from the UAE Ministry of Defense, while Saudi Arabia covered air operations and logistical support. Thus, the Yemen war became a paid enterprise.

The Mercenaries’ Role Against the Houthis

In areas like Hodeidah, Shabwa, and Taiz, the UAE deployed mercenaries in direct assaults against the Houthis to avoid casualties among its own troops. Soon, however, these fighters evolved into independent militias controlling ports and oil-rich regions.

“Mercenaries carried out assassinations targeting political and religious figures in direct coordination with Abu Dhabi.” — BuzzFeed News, 2018

As battles raged, they looted humanitarian aid shipments arriving through Mocha or Hodeidah ports and resold them on the black market—contributing to a dramatic surge in wheat and fuel prices.

“Aid was systematically stolen by UAE-backed groups.” — Human Rights Watch, 2020

Weapons and Military Equipment

Yemen’s mercenaries didn’t fight with conventional weapons. They were equipped with advanced American and Israeli-made arms—M4 rifles, Emirati Panthera T6 armored vehicles, and Chinese Wing Loong drones.

“The military gear used by UAE-aligned forces was among the most technically advanced in the region.” — The Guardian, 2021

These weapons weren’t used solely against the Houthis, but at times against civilians or even forces loyal to Yemen’s internationally recognized president.

Crimes, Torture, and Extrajudicial Killings

Testimonies from survivors of prisons in Aden and Mocha revealed horrifying abuses. Hundreds were tortured with electricity, imprisoned in metal containers under the sun, and some were raped. These prisons were run by Emirati officers with help from foreign mercenaries.

“Investigations uncovered secret prisons in Aden and Mocha run by the UAE and staffed by foreign mercenaries.” — Associated Press, 2018

One prisoner said:

“They weren’t Yemenis. They spoke Spanish. They laughed while we screamed in pain.”

What Happened After the Truce?

Following the partial truce agreement in 2023, the UAE began relocating some mercenaries to camps in Eritrea and along the African coast. Others remained in Yemen, especially in oil-rich coastal areas. Today, reports suggest the UAE is preparing to use them to protect future projects in Bab al-Mandeb and Socotra Island.

“Abu Dhabi doesn’t intend to abandon its mercenaries, but is repurposing them for long-term security and commercial missions.” — Middle East Eye, 2024

Meanwhile, the fate of hundreds of African mercenaries used as “war fuel” remains unknown—they haven’t returned to their countries nor received their dues.

Conclusion**

The war in Yemen wasn’t just a political or sectarian conflict—it became a profitable business.