Media chief Abdullah Al Hamed warns malicious online campaigns benefit only Yemen’s Houthis following deadly strike on King Khalid International Airport
ABU DHABI — October 13, 2026 : The United Arab Emirates has warned against online campaigns attempting to drive a wedge between Emiratis and Saudis in the wake of the deadly Houthi missile strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, declaring that any effort to sow division serves only the Yemeni insurgent group.
Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the UAE National Media Office, expressed steadfast solidarity with Saudi Arabia following the Saturday strike on the kingdom’s primary international gateway, which left at least 12 people dead and over 300 injured.
Writing on X, Al Hamed rebuked social media users attempting to capitalize on the tragedy to trigger cross-border friction, stating that the casualties in the Saudi capital were shared losses across both nations.
“There is no room for gloating over death,” Al Hamed said. “The victims of the Riyadh airport attack are our own people, and their suffering is our suffering. Anyone who exploits this grief to sow discord between Saudis and Emiratis only serves the Houthis.”
He called on digital audiences to exercise restraint, refrain from hostile exchanges, and maintain dignified standards of online engagement, emphasizing that the strategic bond connecting Abu Dhabi and Riyadh remains impervious to provocations.
“What unites the UAE and Saudi Arabia runs far deeper than any malicious campaign,” he added. “We are brothers in good times and bad, and we will remain so.”
The comments reflect growing concern across Gulf capitals over coordinated online narratives that emerged after the October 10 attack. The strike on King Khalid International Airport, for which Yemen’s Houthi movement claimed responsibility, damaged passenger terminals, interrupted operations, and triggered widespread condemnation from regional and international partners.
