The wife of Yemeni poet and novelist Dr. Marwan Al-Ghafouri, writer Sarah Yassin, has reported that her husband went missing on Thursday morning after losing contact with his family while traveling to Dubai International Airport to return to Germany, following his participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair at an official invitation.

Yassin said her husband, who holds German citizenship, was scheduled to board Emirates flight EK57 to Düsseldorf. However, the airline confirmed that he had not boarded the flight, while his family verified that he had not arrived in Germany.

She appealed to Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, to intervene, establish her husband's whereabouts, and ensure his safe return to his family. She recalled that Al-Ghafouri had attended the book fair as an invited guest and had previously been honored in Sharjah as a poet more than two decades ago.

Yassin confirmed that German police and the relevant embassy had been notified. His whereabouts remain unknown, amid unconfirmed reports that he was detained by UAE intelligence authorities.

Al-Ghafouri is a prominent Yemeni novelist, poet, and cardiologist based in Germany. His literary works and political writings explore Yemen's conflict, society, and political transformations. His notable novels include Jada'il Saada, The Exile of Mansour Al-Araj, and Five Houses for God and a Room for My Grandmother.