Story highlights The British hostage is named by UAE state media as Douglas Semple, age 64

He was kidnapped in February 2014 while working as a petroleum engineer, report says

He "is safe and well" and receiving support from British officials

(CNN) A 64-year-old British oil engineer has been freed by United Arab Emirates forces in Yemen, 18 months after he was kidnapped while working in the country, the UAE's official news agency said.

Robert Douglas Semple was being held by al Qaeda in the southern Yemen port city of Aden, WAM reported Sunday.

He was freed in a military intelligence operation by UAE forces and flown to the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, where he was taken to the hospital to be checked over.

Semple was also able to speak with his wife by phone and and will leave for Britain once all the necessary medical checks are done, the news agency said.

The British Foreign Office confirmed that a British hostage had been released from Yemen after being rescued by UAE forces but did not give further details.

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