- Local time
- 02:59
- Currency
- Yemeni Rial (YER)
- Capital
- Aden / Sanaa
- Calling code
- +967
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
The old city of Sana'a, the mountains of the west, the Hadhramaut and Socotra. In 2026 the UK, Canada and the US advise against all travel to Yemen and tell visitors to leave.
The UK, Canada and the United States advise against all travel to Yemen, including the island of Socotra, and the UK and Canada tell anyone there to leave if it is safe to do so. The country is affected by armed conflict, terrorism and a very high and constant threat of kidnapping; British Embassy services in Sana'a are suspended, and there are no evacuation procedures. See the Safety section for the details.
Yemen, at the south-western corner of the Arabian Peninsula, has a culture and a cuisine quite different from the rest of the peninsula. The old city of Sana'a, high in the mountains at over 2,200 m, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of tall decorated houses; the western highlands are green and terraced, the coast is hot and humid, and the east is harsh desert, with the historic Hadhramaut region beyond the port of Al Mukalla. Arabic is the official language.
- Old city of Sana'a: Tall, decorated tower houses in one of the oldest cities in the world, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Wadi Dhar: The rock palace of Dar al-Hajar.
- Hadhramaut: A historic region in the east, reached from the port of Al Mukalla.
- Mokha: The Red Sea port that gave its name to mocha coffee.
Places to visit
Cities
- Sana'a: The capital, high in the mountains, with a UNESCO-listed old city.
- Aden: A seaside city, the former capital of South Yemen.
- Al Mukalla: The largest city and port of the east, gateway to the Hadhramaut.
- Al Hudayda: A large city on the Red Sea coast.
- Mokha: The port that gave its name to mocha coffee.
Regions
- Yemeni Coastal Plains: The Tihamah, a hot, low plain along the Red Sea.
- Yemeni Mountains: The western highlands, wet enough for coffee, qat and grain.
- Yemeni Highlands: A high plateau around Sana'a with some of the tallest peaks of Arabia.
- Empty Quarter: The desert interior.
- Socotra: An island region; Canada and the UK advise against travel to the whole country, Socotra included.
Holidays and events
- 5 February 2026 · Unity Day
- 1 May 2026 · Labour Day
- 26 September 2026 · Revolution Day
- 14 October 2026 · Liberation Day
- 30 November 2026 · Independence Day
Eat and drink
Dishes to try
- Saltah: The signature dish: a meat stew spiced with fenugreek, served at the end of the main course.
- Mandi: Spiced meat cooked in a clay oven over rice, from the Hadhramaut.
- Bint al-sahn: A flat dough dish drenched in Yemeni honey, which is famous across the region.
Drinks
- Tea and Yemeni coffee: Drunk with meals; Yemeni coffee is lighter than Turkish coffee.
Yemeni cuisine is quite different from the rest of the peninsula, and visitors are often invited to share a meal. Yemen is officially dry.
Entry requirements and visas
| Passport validity | At least 6 months after the date you arrive |
|---|
| Passport | Entry | Max stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Visa required | Apply for a visa through the Yemeni Embassy in the UK. |
Other nationalities: check the official source below.
You need a visa, obtained in advance from a Yemeni embassy. If you stay more than 14 days you must register your passport with the immigration authorities. Yemen's airspace is controlled by the Saudi-led coalition, whose permission is needed before flying in. Rules can change: check the official link before you book.
Bringing Yemeni currency in or out is illegal; declare foreign currency above US$3,000, and do not take out more than you brought in. Antiques cannot be exported without permission from the General Authority for Antiquities.
Money and payments
| Currency | Yemeni Rial (YER) |
|---|---|
| Cards | Rare |
The currency is the Yemeni rial (YER). There are few ATMs outside Sana'a, and US dollars in cash are the easiest currency to change. Importing or exporting Yemeni rials is illegal; declare foreign currency above US$3,000 on arrival.
Health
| Recommended vaccines | Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR) and polio, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, for some travellers: ask a travel clinic, Rabies, for some travellers, Cholera, for some high-risk travellers |
|---|---|
| Malaria | Some areas |
| Tap water | Not safe |
Ask a travel health professional about vaccines and malaria at least 8 weeks before you go: the UK lists malaria, dengue, MERS and schistosomiasis among the risks, and altitude sickness in the mountains. Medical facilities are poor, especially outside the main cities, and emergency services may not respond: it may be better to make your own way to hospital. Drink bottled water and avoid juice stalls that may use tap water.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
- United States: Level 4: Do Not Travel (2026-10-20)
- Canada: Avoid all travel (2026-10-20)
- United Kingdom: Advises against all travel (2026-10-20)
The UK, Canada and the US advise against all travel to Yemen, including Socotra, and tell anyone there to leave if it is safe to do so; commercial options to leave are extremely limited. British Embassy services in Sana'a are suspended and the UK cannot help British nationals leave. Since July 2026 the Houthis have launched strikes against Saudi territory and shipping in the Red Sea, and wider conflict may resume at short notice.
Terrorists are very likely to try to carry out attacks, especially in Abyan, Marib, Hadramawt and Shabwah, and the threat of kidnapping is very high and constant across the country; hostages have been murdered. The UK strongly advises against all travel to Houthi-controlled areas, where arbitrary detention is widespread and British nationals have been held. Weapons are common, and carjacking, robbery and armed tribal disputes occur. Anyone who remains should keep a low profile, vary routes, avoid road travel outside the main cities at night, beware of landmines off main tracks, and never photograph military sites. Fuel is in severe shortage, and tropical cyclones sometimes hit the country.
Customs and etiquette
Yemen is an Islamic country under Islamic law. Men and women must wear loose clothing that covers the elbows and reaches below the knees, without slogans or political symbols. Drinking alcohol in public is forbidden. Ask before photographing people. Same-sex relations are illegal and can carry the death penalty. During Ramadan do not eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public in daylight. Avoid discussing the United States or Israel. Chewing qat leaves in the afternoon is a deeply rooted social habit, and visitors are often offered a branch.
Language
| Official languages | Arabic |
|---|---|
| English | Rare |
| Hello | مرحبا marḥaban |
|---|---|
| Peace be with you (formal greeting) | السلام عليكم as-salaamu alaikum |
| Please | من فضلك min faḍlak (to a man), min faḍlik (to a woman) |
| Thank you | شكرا shukran |
| Excuse me | لو سمحت law samaḥta (to a man), law samaḥti (to a woman) |
| Goodbye | مع السلامة ma'a as-salaamah |
| Do you speak English? | هل تتكلم الانجليزية؟ hal tatakallam al-ingliziyyah? |
| How much is this? | بكم هذا؟ bikam hatha? |
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Aden / Sanaa |
|---|---|
| Population | 41,773,878 (2025) |
| Area | 527,968 km² |
| Time zone | Asia/Aden (UTC+3) |
| Calling code | +967 |
| Driving side | right |
Emergency numbers
| Police | 199 or 194 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 191 |
| Fire | 191 |
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to travel to Yemen?
No. In 2026 the UK, Canada and the US advise against all travel to Yemen, including Socotra, because of armed conflict, terrorism and kidnapping.
What money should I bring to Yemen?
US dollars in cash, the easiest currency to change; ATMs are scarce outside Sana'a, and importing or exporting Yemeni rials is illegal.
Sources This guide was last checked on · 17 sources
- Wikivoyage: Yemen · Overview, Places to visit, Eat and drink, Health, Customs and etiquette, Language
- UK FCDO: Yemen warnings and insurance · Overview, Safety, Frequently asked questions
- Government of Canada: Yemen travel advice (updated 13 October 2026) · Overview, Entry requirements and visas, Health, Safety, Frequently asked questions
- UK FCDO: Yemen travel advice · Overview, Safety
- Nager.Date: public holidays in Yemen, 2026 · Holidays and events
- UK FCDO: Yemen entry requirements · Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata · Money and payments, Country facts
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- UK FCDO: Yemen health · Health
- US CDC: Travelers' health, Yemen · Health
- US Department of State: Yemen travel advisory · Safety
- UK FCDO: Yemen safety and security · Safety, Customs and etiquette, Frequently asked questions
- Wikivoyage: Arabic phrasebook · Language
- World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL · Country facts
- World Bank, AG.LND.TOTL.K2 · Country facts
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
- UK FCDO: Yemen getting help · Emergency numbers
Suggest an update
Travel rules, prices and timetables change. If something in this guide is out of date, tell us: we check every suggestion against an official source before changing the page.