The US is reviewing whether to designate Yemen’s Al-Islah party and affiliated entities as terrorist organisations, according to Arabic-language Yemeni reports, amid indications of lobbying efforts linked to the UAE .
Sources said Washington has submitted a package of official inquiries to the Yemeni Congregation for Reform, commonly known as Al-Islah, as part of a broader review that includes more than 161 entities, spanning economic, charitable and social institutions believed to be linked to the party.
The move suggests the process may be at a preliminary but structured stage, with US authorities gathering detailed information before determining whether to proceed with any formal designation.
According to the sources, Al-Islah prepared a response to the inquiries but chose to submit it through Yemen’s Presidential Council rather than directly to the American side, reflecting a cautious and indirect approach to engagement with Washington.
Entities believed to be linked to the UAE have also been active in recent weeks in pushing to convince the US to convene a special session to consider the classification file, the sources said, as reported by Al Jazeera’s Yemen correspondent Ahmed Alshalfi.
Al-Islah, a major political faction with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, is a key component of Yemen’s internationally recognised government and has long been in alliance of convenience with Saudi-backed forces in the war against the Houthis.
However, its position within the anti-Houthi camp has been increasingly contested.
The reported US review comes amid ongoing rivalries within that camp, where Al-Islah has faced sustained pressure from UAE-backed southern separatist forces, particularly the Southern Transitional Council, as well as broader political efforts to curb its influence within state institutions.
Arabic-language Yemeni reports have also indicated that the party is seeking to manage the situation through state structures and regional allies, rather than entering into direct engagement with Washington, in what appears to be an attempt to avoid political isolation or escalation.
No official statement has been issued by US authorities regarding the reported review, and it remains unclear how far any designation process has advanced or whether it will ultimately lead to formal action.
The reported push against Al-Islah also aligns with the UAE’s long-standing opposition to Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated movements across the region, including those that advocate forms of Islamic democracy.
Abu Dhabi was a key backer of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi following the 2013 ousting of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected leader and a Brotherhood figure.
The UAE strongly supported Sisi’s subsequent crackdown on the group, which saw thousands of members imprisoned or killed and the organisation designated as a terrorist group, reflecting a broader regional policy of curbing pro-democracy Islamist political movements in the aftermath of the Arab Spring.