Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding in Protracted Conflict: The Role of the United Arab Emirates in Yemen

Abstract

Contemporary armed conflicts are increasingly protracted, fragmented, and shaped by regional rivalries, limiting the effectiveness of conventional, troop-centered peacekeeping alone. In this context, humanitarian assistance has emerged as a crucial tool for protecting civilians and fostering a degree of stability. This study examines the UAE’s humanitarian role in Yemen from 2015 onwards, exploring how its relief and reconstruction initiatives function as instruments of peace support. Employing a combined framework of human security, middle-power diplomacy, and humanitarian diplomacy, the analysis draws on UAE government reports, UN OCHA data, and recent academic literature. Particular focus is given to the UAE’s USD 465 million unrestricted contribution to the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan (YHRP) in 2018 and an additional USD 230 million pledge in 2021. Evidence suggests that these interventions have supported essential services, enhanced access to food and healthcare, and strengthened local resilience. While humanitarian assistance cannot replace a comprehensive political settlement, it can help create conditions conducive to peace by safeguarding civilians, maintaining critical institutions, and preventing further deterioration. Yemen illustrates how Gulf middle powers, in collaboration with the UN, can leverage humanitarian engagement as a core component of contemporary peace and security strategies.