Asia · Western Asia

Yemen

Republic of Yemen

Flag of Yemen
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+03:00
🏛️ Capital
Sana'a
👥 Population
32,684,503
📐 Area
527,968 km²
💱 Currency
Yemeni rial (﷼)
🗣️ Languages
Arabic
📞 Calling Code
+967
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+03:00
🌐 Region
Asia / Western Asia

About Yemen

Yemen is one of the Arabian Peninsula's most ancient and culturally profound destinations, a land where civilisation stretches back thousands of years and where the landscape itself seems to carry the weight of accumulated history. Before the devastating civil conflict that has gripped the country since 2015, Yemen captivated the rare travellers fortunate enough to visit with its extraordinary architectural heritage: the towering mud-brick skyscrapers of Sana'a, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth; the dramatic fortress city of Shibam in the Hadramawt Valley, whose 16th-century tower houses earned it the nickname "Manhattan of the Desert"; and the singular ecological wonder of Socotra Island, where evolution in isolation has produced a landscape that looks like nothing else on Earth.

The people of Yemen have historically been among the most hospitable in the Arab world, offering tea, qat-chewing sessions, and an openness to visitors that made travellers feel they had been welcomed into something genuine and rare. The country's geographical diversity is equally astonishing: from the Red Sea coast and the fertile Tihama coastal plain, through the cool green highlands of the Haraz Mountains where terraced villages cling to impossible cliff faces, to the vast and hauntingly beautiful Empty Quarter desert that merges into Saudi Arabia in the north. Coffee — the original Arabian coffee, from the historic port of al-Mokha — was first traded globally from Yemeni soil, a heritage the country carries with considerable pride.

It must be acknowledged honestly that Yemen is not currently a viable travel destination for most visitors. The ongoing civil war has caused catastrophic humanitarian suffering, destroyed much of the country's infrastructure, and created conditions that make independent travel extremely dangerous. The information here is offered in the hope of preserving and honouring Yemen's extraordinary cultural and natural heritage, and in the belief that one day, when peace is restored, this remarkable country will once again welcome the world. Until that day, Yemen stands as a reminder of how irreplaceable cultural heritage is and how much is lost when conflict tears through ancient civilisations.

History & Background

Yemen's history reaches back to some of the most ancient organised civilisations in the Arabian world. The Kingdom of Saba — identified by many scholars with the biblical Queen of Sheba — flourished from around 900 BCE, controlling the lucrative frankincense and myrrh trade routes that connected the Arabian Peninsula with the Mediterranean world. The Marib Dam, an extraordinary feat of ancient hydraulic engineering that irrigated vast agricultural lands in the desert interior, supported populations of hundreds of thousands and stood as one of the ancient world's great technical achievements. Its eventual collapse around the 6th century CE is recorded in the Quran and in South Arabian inscriptions as a defining moment in Yemeni memory.

Islam arrived in Yemen in 628 CE, and the country was among the first to embrace the new faith. Over the following centuries Yemen became a centre of Islamic scholarship, architecture, and trade — the port of Aden became one of the most important commercial hubs between the East and West, and the coffee trade from al-Mokha (Mocha) transformed global beverage culture. Ottoman rule in the 16th and 17th centuries left a complex architectural and cultural legacy, particularly in Sana'a, while British colonisation of Aden from 1839 created the division between North and South Yemen that persisted until unification in 1990. The current conflict, which began in 2014–2015 with the Houthi movement's takeover of Sana'a, represents the most severe rupture in this long and complex national story.

Culture & People

Yemeni culture is one of the Arab world's oldest and most distinctive, rooted in tribal structures and Islamic traditions that have shaped daily life for over a millennium. The country was the heartland of ancient South Arabian civilisations — the kingdoms of Saba (Sheba), Himyar, and Qataban — whose prosperity was built on the frankincense and myrrh trade and whose architectural legacies still stand in the desert. Yemeni architecture is celebrated worldwide: the multi-storey tower houses of Sana'a, decorated with elaborate alabaster fanlights and geometric plasterwork, represent one of the most distinctive vernacular building traditions in the world, and the UNESCO-listed old city of Sana'a contains over 6,000 of these extraordinary structures.

The tribal system remains deeply influential in Yemen, with hundreds of tribes maintaining distinct customs, dress codes, and social structures that cut across the national government's reach. The daily ritual of qat chewing — qat being a mild stimulant leaf grown widely in the Yemeni highlands — is perhaps the most universal social custom, with afternoon qat sessions providing the forum for political discussion, business negotiation, poetry recitation, and storytelling. Yemeni poetry has a particularly elevated status in the culture; improvised poetic duels (known as Balah or Zāmil) are a revered competitive art form. The country's musical traditions, particularly the lute-based songs of the Hadramawt and the Sana'ani muwashshah classical form, are of outstanding beauty and international significance.

Food & Cuisine

Yemeni cuisine is among the most distinctive and celebrated in the Arab world, characterised by bold spicing, slow-cooked meats, and bread-centred eating traditions that reflect both the country's agricultural heritage and its position on ancient trade routes. The most iconic Yemeni dish is saltah, the national dish — a hearty stew of meat, vegetables, and pulses finished with a frothy whipped fenugreek foam called hulba and served in a sizzling stone pot with flatbread for scooping. Mandi, tender slow-roasted lamb or chicken cooked in an underground tandoor pit over aromatic wood coals, is perhaps the most internationally recognised Yemeni dish and has spread throughout the Gulf states and diaspora communities worldwide.

Bread is the foundation of every Yemeni meal: lahoh, a spongy, slightly sour flatbread similar to Ethiopian injera, is eaten at breakfast with honey, clarified butter, and yoghurt; mulawwah, a flaky fried bread enriched with butter, is another beloved staple. Haradh, a Ramadan specialty of shredded flatbread soaked in broth with meat and eggs, and fahsa, a lamb and fenugreek stew cooked in clay, represent the extraordinary depth of a cuisine that remains little known internationally despite its quality. The coffee from the Haraz highlands and the famous Bani Matar region — qishr, made from coffee husks spiced with ginger, is the traditional Yemeni coffee drink — represents a heritage stretching back to the very origins of global coffee culture. Yemen's honey, particularly the prized Sidr honey from Hadramawt, is considered among the finest in the world.

Top Attractions

  • Old City of Sana'a — A UNESCO World Heritage Site of extraordinary beauty, where thousands of decorated multi-storey mud-brick tower houses create one of the most visually stunning cityscapes in the Islamic world.
  • Shibam, Wadi Hadramawt — The "Manhattan of the Desert," where 16th-century mud-brick skyscrapers up to nine storeys high rise from the desert floor in a UNESCO-listed formation of stunning architectural ambition.
  • Socotra Island — A UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site of unparalleled ecological uniqueness, where dragon blood trees, bottle trees, and over 700 endemic plant species create an alien and magnificent landscape.
  • Marib — The ancient capital of the Sabaean Kingdom, site of the legendary Marib Dam and the Temple of the Moon God (Awam Temple), one of the most important archaeological sites in the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Shahara Bridge and Village — A 17th-century stone arch bridge connecting two mountain peaks in the Amran Governorate, with a dramatically sited hilltop village that exemplifies Yemeni highland architecture and engineering.

Practical Travel Tips

  • As of 2026, Yemen remains an active conflict zone — check your government's official travel advisory before making any plans and follow all guidance from authorities regarding safety and entry.
  • If travelling to Socotra Island, verify the current political and security situation carefully, as the island's status and accessibility have been subject to change during the ongoing conflict.
  • Historical travellers to Yemen emphasised the importance of local guides and tribal contacts — the country's social structure makes personal introductions and local networks essential for safe travel.
  • Learn basic Arabic phrases; Yemenis historically appreciated and responded warmly to visitors who made the effort to communicate in the local language.
  • Dress conservatively throughout Yemen — for women, loose-fitting clothing covering arms and legs and a headscarf are essential; for men, shorts are inappropriate outside of private settings.
  • The Yemeni rial has been subject to severe inflation during the conflict — carry US dollars or euros as they are more stable reference currencies in humanitarian and commercial contexts.

Visa Overview

Yemen's visa situation is currently complicated by the ongoing conflict and the presence of multiple competing authorities controlling different parts of the country. Prior to the conflict, most nationalities required a visa obtained in advance from a Yemeni embassy or consulate. Citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council states could enter without a visa. All travellers must be aware that the security situation makes travel to most of Yemen extremely dangerous as of 2026, and most governments have issued "do not travel" advisories for the country. Any visa inquiries should be directed to the nearest Yemeni diplomatic representation, bearing in mind the limited functioning of normal government services.

Getting Around

Under normal circumstances, Yemen's main international airport at Sana'a and the southern hub at Aden connected the country to regional and international flights. Domestically, Yemenia Airlines provided inter-city air connections — important given the challenging terrain. Road travel through the highlands and wadis required 4WD vehicles and experienced drivers; many mountain routes were unpaved and remote. Public minibuses and shared taxis connected major towns. As of 2026, transport infrastructure has been severely disrupted by conflict. Visitors to any accessible areas, including Socotra, should arrange all transport through vetted local operators who understand current ground conditions.

Safety Notes

Yemen is classified as an extremely high-risk destination due to the ongoing civil war, which has involved aerial bombardment, ground fighting, landmines, and severe disruption to all public services. Most governments advise against all travel to Yemen, including Socotra Island. Kidnapping of foreigners has occurred in the past. Humanitarian workers operating in Yemen do so under strict security protocols. Any person considering travel to Yemen must conduct thorough due diligence, consult professional security advisors, and ensure comprehensive evacuation insurance and plans are in place. This is not a destination for independent tourism in current conditions.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in Yemen.

Yemeni rial (YER)
Updated: 2026-07-06
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.058865
AAVE 0.000048
ADA 0.022478
AED 0.015496
AFN 0.268273
AGIX 0.054083
AKT 0.006728
ALGO 0.047136
ALL 0.345881
AMD 1.552660
AMP 9.459951
ANG 0.007609
AOA 3.875189
APE 0.030100
APT 0.006747
AR 0.002114
ARB 0.052754
ARS 6.297913
ATOM 0.002668
ATS 0.050786
AUD 0.006091
AVAX 0.000611
AWG 0.007553
AXS 0.004179
AZM 35.865967
AZN 0.007173
BAKE 5.615580
BAM 0.007219
BAT 0.047911
BBD 0.008439
BCH 0.000017
BDT 0.520156
BEF 0.148885
BGN 0.007219
BHD 0.001587
BIF 12.561558
BMD 0.004220
BNB 0.000007
BND 0.005454
BOB 0.029229
BRL 0.021807
BSD 0.004220
BSV 0.000286
BSW 12.607085
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.079623
BTG 0.014623
BTN 0.402015
BTT 15,910.069672
BUSD 0.004216
BWP 0.056950
BYN 0.012253
BYR 82.710701
BZD 0.008498
CAD 0.005996
CAKE 0.002914
CDF 9.735472
CELO 0.062806
CFX 0.094314
CHF 0.003394
CHZ 0.233725
CLP 3.887026
CNH 0.028656
CNY 0.028645
COMP 0.000252
COP 14.103894
CRC 1.922782
CRO 0.070593
CRV 0.019738
CSPR 2.172636
CUC 0.004220
CUP 0.111828
CVE 0.406981
CVX 0.003508
CYP 0.002160
CZK 0.089266
DAI 0.004222
DASH 0.000120
DCR 0.000380
DEM 0.007219
DFI 5.078799
DJF 0.751468
DKK 0.027588
DOGE 0.054602
DOP 0.250076
DOT 0.004837
DYDX 0.031951
DZD 0.561171
EEK 0.057748
EGLD 0.001527
EGP 0.207271
ENJ 0.145799
EOS 0.058255
ERN 0.063293
ESP 0.614092
ETB 0.674937
ETC 0.000594
ETH 0.000002
EUR 0.003691
EURC 0.003693
FEI 0.004221
FIL 0.005344
FIM 0.021944
FJD 0.009475
FKP 0.003162
FLOW 0.150567
FLR 0.607046
FRAX 0.004265
FRF 0.024210
FTT 0.017714
GALA 1.841851
GBP 0.003162
GEL 0.011083
GGP 0.003162
GHC 479.379401
GHS 0.047938
GIP 0.003162
GMD 0.311166
GMX 0.000712
GNF 36.994858
GNO 0.000040
GRD 1.257628
GRT 0.222402
GT 0.000622
GTQ 0.032208
GUSD 0.004225
GYD 0.883211
HBAR 0.055880
HKD 0.033094
HNL 0.112966
HNT 0.017608
HOT 11.692911
HRK 0.027808
HT 0.117769
HTG 0.552313
HUF 1.305066
ICP 0.001914
IDR 75.919811
IEP 0.002907
ILS 0.012674
IMP 0.003162
IMX 0.030540
INJ 0.000864
INR 0.402015
IQD 5.532617
IRR 5,806.417808
ISK 0.531476
ITL 7.146318
JEP 0.003162
JMD 0.668468
JOD 0.002992
JPY 0.682929
KAS 0.137554
KAVA 0.093520
KCS 0.000584
KDA 0.723954
KES 0.545546
KGS 0.369058
KHR 16.919588
KMF 1.815737
KNC 0.037854
KPW 3.797942
KRW 6.467942
KSM 0.001197
KWD 0.001309
KYD 0.003510
KZT 1.994752
LAK 95.399462
LBP 378.927844
LDO 0.015620
LEO 0.000451
LINK 0.000528
LKR 1.413099
LRC 0.343426
LRD 0.766367
LSL 0.068583
LTC 0.000093
LTL 0.012743
LUF 0.148885
LUNA 0.085922
LUNC 68.727332
LVL 0.002594
LYD 0.027066
MAD 0.039510
MANA 0.060640
MBX 0.167777
MDL 0.074268
MGA 17.905674
MGF 89.528370
MINA 0.089003
MKD 0.227358
MKR 0.000003
MMK 8.858163
MNT 15.123366
MOP 0.034087
MRO 1.685154
MRU 0.168515
MTL 0.001584
MUR 0.198346
MVR 0.065231
MWK 7.319343
MXN 0.073754
MXV 0.008363
MYR 0.017204
MZM 269.486382
MZN 0.269486
NAD 0.068583
NEAR 0.002118
NEO 0.002133
NEXO 0.005485
NFT 15,921.522356
NGN 5.781929
NIO 0.155324
NLG 0.008133
NOK 0.041505
NPR 0.643525
NZD 0.007416
OKB 0.000053
OMR 0.001624
ONE 3.375840
OP 0.039249
ORDI 0.001300
PAB 0.004220
PAXG 0.000001
PEN 0.014369
PEPE 1,546.998260
PGK 0.018563
PHP 0.259555
PI 0.037300
PKR 1.173913
PLN 0.015843
POL 0.057376
PTE 0.739932
PYG 25.665805
QAR 0.015359
QNT 0.000063
QTUM 0.005936
ROL 192.879737
RON 0.019288
RPL 0.002084
RSD 0.432897
RUB 0.325147
RUNE 0.010203
RVN 1.107165
RWF 6.185281
SAND 0.084571
SAR 0.015823
SBD 0.034145
SCR 0.060296
SDD 253.275036
SDG 2.532750
SEK 0.040730
SGD 0.005454
SHIB 963.740350
SHP 0.003162
SIT 0.884455
SKK 0.111188
SLE 0.096374
SLL 96.373767
SNX 0.018427
SOL 0.000052
SOS 2.409521
SPL 0.000703
SRD 0.158842
SRG 158.842448
SSP 20.039314
STD 91.094732
STN 0.091095
STX 0.024676
SUI 0.005648
SVC 0.036921
SYP 0.466438
SZL 0.068583
THB 0.140258
THETA 0.030078
TJS 0.039112
TMM 74.035601
TMT 0.014807
TND 0.012439
TOP 0.010162
TRL 197,538.999744
TRX 0.012849
TRY 0.197539
TTD 0.028591
TUSD 0.004228
TVD 0.006091
TWD 0.135406
TWT 0.012274
TZS 11.087265
UAH 0.188046
UGX 15.420324
UNI 0.001335
USD 0.004220
USDC 0.004221
USDD 0.004224
USDP 0.004232
USDT 0.004224
UYU 0.169832
UZS 50.498434
VAL 7.146318
VEB 271,922,520.878541
VED 2.718983
VEF 271,898.311682
VES 2.718983
VET 0.894448
VND 110.974426
VUV 0.507153
WAVES 0.015879
WEMIX 0.016298
WOO 0.356361
WST 0.011670
XAF 2.420983
XAG 0.000068
XAU 0.000001
XAUT 0.000001
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.011422
XCG 0.007609
XCH 0.002677
XDC 0.150169
XDR 0.003112
XEC 794.352135
XEM 9.856591
XLM 0.021136
XMR 0.000013
XOF 2.420983
XPD 0.000003
XPF 0.440425
XPT 0.000003
XRP 0.003686
XTZ 0.016958
ZAR 0.068583
ZEC 0.000009
ZIL 1.367844
ZMK 77.425391
ZMW 0.077425
ZWD 1.527047
ZWG 0.113183
ZWL 282.812572

No currencies match your search.

Cities in Yemen 300
Browse all cities and towns
'Adan 'Amran 'Ataq Aden Ahwar al-Bayda al-Ghaydah al-Hazm al-Hudaydah al-Marawi'ah al-Mukalla al-Mukha AlJeraf ash-Shahir az-Zaydiyah Bajil Bayt-al-Faqih Dhamar Dhi Sufal Habban Hajjah Hodaidah Ibb Ja'ar Jiblah Ma'rib Mahwit Qa'tabah Raydah Sa'dah Sahar Sanaa Sayyan Shaqra' Ta'izz Taiz Tuban Yarim Zabid Zinjibar أحور إب ال معوضة الأحد البريقة البيضاء التحيتا التربة الجبين الجديدة الجراحي الجمعة الجميمة (الحصن) الجول الحامي الحبيلين الحدية الحديدة الحرجة الحرف الحزم الحسينية الحشوة الحصن الحصون الحميدات الحوطة الخراب الخميس الخوخة الدريهمي الدمنة الراهدة الرباط الربوع الربوع الرضائي الرضمة الروض الروضة الروضة الرونة الريدة الشرقية الزاهر الزاهر الزهرة الزيدية السخنة السدة السرير السوادية السودة السوق الجديد السويداء السياني الشاهل الشحر الشغادرة الشقيراء الشواتي الصعيد الصفقين الصليف الصومعة الضالع الضليعة الطويلة العبر العدين العر العشة العقبة الحمراء العليب العنان العوابل العيص الغرفة الغيضة الغيل القارة القريشية القطن القطيع القفلة القلعة القناوص الكدن الكود الكيبنية اللحية المتون المحابشة المحجل المحفد المحويت المخا المخزن المدان المديد المراوعة المسراخ المسيمير المصلوب المصلى المغربة المفتاح المقد المكلا الملاح الملاحيط المنصورية المنقطع المنيرة الميفعة النادرة النشمة النضير باتيس باجل باقم بروم بضة بضة القبلية بلحاف بني بكر بيت السيد بيت الفقيه بيت عذاقة بيحان العليا تريم تعز ثمود ثوجان جاذب جبلة جبن جحانة جعار جول الريدة (ميفعة) حبابة حبان حبيل الريدة حجة حديبو حرض حريب حريضة حصن بني سعد حصوين حمام دمت حوث حورة حيب أصابح حيدان حيس حيفان خاو خمر خيران المحرق ذباب ذمار ذي السفال ذيبين رجوزة رحاب رحبة الكولة رداع رصد رضوم رماه ريدة زبيد زخم زراجة زنجبار ساقين ساه سوق الخميس سوق الخميس (مستباء) سوق سباح سوق صرواح سيئون سيان سيحوت شبام شبام كوكبان شحن شحير شرس شهارة صافر صبر صعدة صلاح الدين صناء صنعاء صيف ضوران ضوران الجديدة ظبة ظلمة حبيش ظليمة حبور عبس عتق عدن عزان عزلة الدير عزلة بيت مران عسيلان عمد عمران غيل باوزير غيمان قرن الأسد قرية الخيسا قرية بئر فقم قشن قصيعر قعطبة قلنسية كتاف كدمة السيد قاسم كسمة كشر كعيدنة كمران لودر مأرب مافود ماوية مبين متنة مجز مجزر مدغل مديرية المتون مدينة صنعاء مدينة لبعوس مركز مذيخرة مشاط معبر مفحق مفرق الوديعة مقبنة مكيراس ملاح مناخة مودية موزع ميدي نجد الجماعي نجرة (محمود) نشطون نصاب نعمان هجرة قطابر وضرة وعلان يريم يفرس

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of Yemen needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of Yemen?
The capital of Yemen is Sana'a.
What currency does Yemen use?
Yemen uses the Yemeni rial (﷼) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in Yemen?
The official language(s) of Yemen include Arabic.
What is the population of Yemen?
Yemen has a population of approximately 32,684,503 people.
What region is Yemen in?
Yemen is located in Asia, specifically in the Western Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for Yemen?
The international dialing code for Yemen is +967.
What time zones does Yemen observe?
Yemen observes the following time zone(s): UTC+03:00.
What is the current time in Yemen?
The local time in Yemen is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of Yemen?
Yemen covers a total area of 527,968 km².
How many states or provinces does Yemen have?
Yemen is divided into 37 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in Yemen in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for Yemen in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of Yemen?
Visa requirements for citizens of Yemen vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.