ADEN, Yemen, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE), a key partner of the Saudi-led coalition, continued rehabilitating Yemen's infrastructure, especially airports which were badly affected by years of military conflict.
In Yemen's southeastern province of Hadramout, the UAE completed the rebuilding of the Riyan International Airport that will play a significant role in reducing the suffering of the Yemeni passengers.
The airport has become ready to receive flights following nearly five years of suspension after the al-Qaida's takeover of Mukalla, Hadramout's capital city, in 2015.
The UAE reconstructed the airport's lounges and equipped them with modern technologies. It also maintained the runways and rebuilt the control towers of the airport.
"The UAE played a major role and generously supported all the costs of reconstructing the airport," Anes Baswaitin, director of the airport, told Xinhua.
"High-ranking officials of the UAE closely followed the reconstruction processes of the airport," said Baswaitin, adding the UAE finished work in a short period despite the difficult circumstances.
Citizens in Hadramout and elsewhere in war-ravaged Yemen are looking forward to the re-opening ceremony of the Riyan airport that will be held in 24 hours with the presence of senior Yemeni officials.
Other airports in southern Yemen including Aden's International Airport were reconstructed by the UAE during the past years after expelling the Houthis.
The UAE is an active member of the Saudi-led Arab military coalition that has been fighting the Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015.
Last month, the UAE forces completed their military pullout from Yemen's southern port city of Aden.
The General Command of the UAE Armed Forces said in a statement that the UAE troops have achieved their goal of "liberating the region" and the responsibility for maintaining security has been transferred to Yemeni and Saudi Arabian troops.
The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since late 2014, when the Houthis overran much of the country and seized all northern provinces including the capital Sanaa.
