Yemen travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and to the kidnap section. The level of advice has not changed.

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Travel advice for this country

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Travel Summary

We advise against all but essential travel to the Governorates of Sa’dah, Ma’rib, al Jawf, Shabwah and Hadramaut due to the threat of terrorism and tribal violence. We also advise against all but essential travel to Sana'a. You should take all necessary steps to protect your safety; this includes having confidence in your personal security arrangements. See the Political Situation and Terrorism sections of this advice for more details.
There is a high threat from terrorism in Yemen including against Western, and British, interests. You should be particularly vigilant in public places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers, including in Sana’a and other urban centres. At least 17 people were killed in a terrorist attack on the US Embassy in Sana'a on 17 September, including six terrorists. We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
There have been a number of kidnappings of foreign nationals since mid-2005, including in the Governorates of Ma’rib, Shabwah and ‘Amran. The last incident took place in the Governorate of Dhamar at the end of September 2008. You should exercise caution when travelling outside major cities in Yemen. See the Kidnaps section of this advice for more details.
If you wish to drive to Governorates outside Sana'a, you will need prior permission from the Yemen Tourist Police. You should be aware that consular assistance may be limited due to the restrictions on travel.
The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Yemen in 2007 was arrests or detentions, mostly of people travelling to areas of Yemen without the correct permission.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and the Travel Insurance page of the FCO website for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There remains a high threat from terrorism in Yemen. We believe that terrorists continue to plan attacks. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including against Western and British interests, such as residential compounds, military and oil facilities, and transport and aviation interests. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

You should take all the necessary steps to protect your safety, and you should make sure that you have confidence in your individual security arrangements. You should maintain a high level of vigilance in public places and you should exercise particular caution in places frequented by foreign travellers and expatriates such as hotels and restaurants, which we judge to be of particular risk, including in Sana’a and other urban areas.

We advise against all but essential travel to the Governorates of Sa’dah, Ma’rib, al Jawf, Shabwah and Hadramaut due to the threat of terrorism and tribal violence. We also advise against all but essential travel to Sana’a due to the threat of terrorism.

There have been a number of other terrorist incidents in Yemen over the past 10 years. Recent examples of such attacks include:

On 17 September 2008, at least 17 people were killed in an attack on the US Embassy in Sana'a, including six terrorists.
On 30 April 2008, there was a mortar attack against the Italian Embassy in Sana'a.
On 10 April 2008 an improvised explosive device exploded at an oil company headquarters in Sana'a, and a second device was disarmed.
On 6 April 2008 there was a mortar attack against a residential compound in Sana'a.
On 18 March 2008 there was a grenade attack against the US Embassy in Sana'a.
On 18 January 2008, two Belgian and two Yemeni nationals were shot dead, with four other Belgians seriously injured, in an incident in the Governorate of Hadramaut.
On 9 July 2007, an explosive device was found in Aden but was not detonated.
On 2 July 2007, eight Spanish and two Yemeni nationals were killed, and a number of others injured, in a suicide bomb attack in Ma’rib, 100 km east of Sana'a.

For further information please also check the British Embassy website: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/yemen.

Kidnaps

Some tribes are heavily armed and have a tradition of kidnapping foreigners to publicise their grievances or to further their case in disputes with the government. Such kidnappings have occurred in the capital Sana’a as well as in the Governorates of al-Jawf, Abyan, Sa'dah, Dhamar, ‘Amran, Ma’rib and Shabwah. You should exercise caution when travelling outside urban areas and you should not travel outside cities at night. We strongly recommend that travel outside the major cities is only undertaken with an organised group accompanied by a military escort.

The last kidnap incident took place in the Governorate of Dhamar at the end of September when a family of five Americans were kidnapped. The hostages were released unharmed. Earlier that month, two Colombian oil engineers were kidnapped in the Governorate of Shabwa, they were also released unharmed. You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking.

Crime

Incidents of violent crime against foreigners are rare, but the easy availability of weapons makes it a possibility. Tribal disputes over land are common, including in major cities, and may involve the use of weapons. You should exercise caution at all times.

For more general information see the Victims of Crime Abroad page on the FCO website.

Political Situation

Yemen Country Profile

Since 2004, the Yemeni government have been fightingt an armed uprising by the al Huthi movement and their supporters in Sa’dah, northern Yemen. Foreigners have not been targeted, but hundreds of Yemeni soldiers and civilians have been killed in the fighting. The area affected by the conflict has gradually spread from the northern part of the Sa'ada Governorate into the neighbouring Governorates of 'Amran and al Jawf. In 2008, there have also been pockets of fighting in Wadi Bani Hushaish, some 20 kilometres east of Sana'a. The fighting has varied in intensity, with lulls in hostilities and several agreed ceasefires, most recently in July 2008. The Yemeni government has restricted access to Sa'ada and the surrounding area. The latest ceasefire continues to hold, but the situation remains tense. We advise against all but essential travel to the Sa'ada Governorate, access to which is in any case limited by Yemeni government restrictions.

You should follow news reports and be alert to local and regional developments, which might trigger public disturbances. Developments in Iraq and on the Middle East Peace Process continue to have an impact on local public opinion in the region. You should be aware of local sensitivities on the issue. You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid public gatherings and demonstrations.

Local Travel

If you wish to drive outside Sana'a you will need prior permission from the Yemen Tourist Police. Travel permits may take at least 24 hours to be issued and are easiest to obtain through a travel agent who can organise local tours. You should be aware that the consular assistance we can offer outside Sana’a may be limited due to restrictions on travel.

There have been disturbances in Aden, Lahij and al-Dhali', which have resulted in closures of the Aden-Sana'a road. These have been short-lived but if you intend to travel by road you should check that the road is open before starting your journey.

Road Travel

You can drive in Yemen on an International Driving Licence.

Driving standards are poor and mountain roads hazardous.

You should avoid all road travel at night. Care should also be taken to avoid minefields left over from Yemen's civil wars. Travelling off well-used tracks without an experienced guide could be extremely hazardous, particularly in parts of the south and the central highlands.

For more general information see the Driving Abroad page of the FCO website.

Air Travel

All flights should be reconfirmed during your stay.

Sea Travel

Mariners should be aware that there is the possibility of attacks against ships and in particular yachts off the Yemen coast, especially in the Gulf of Aden. We strongly advise against yachting in this area. Incidents of piracy have also been known to occur in parts of the Red Sea.

Mariners can find more general information at the River and Sea Safety page of the FCO website.

Local laws and customs

Local laws reflect the fact that Yemen is a Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. For more general information see Travelling During Ramadan (September 2008).

You should dress modestly and you should not consume alcohol in public.

Care should be exercised using cameras anywhere near military or religious sites, or taking pictures of people without their consent.

For more general advice for different types of travellers see the Travel Advice Relevant to You pages of the FCO website.

Entry requirements

Visas

British citizens require visas to enter Yemen. Visas may be obtained in advance from the Yemeni Embassy, 57 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2ED (tel: 020 7584 6607; website: http://www.yemenembassy.org.uk) British and EU citizens can also obtain tourist visas at the airport upon arrival.

Passport validity

The Yemeni authorities have no minimum validity requirements for passports being used to enter Yemen.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Yemeni Embassy in London (see contact details above).

Health

Medical facilities in Yemen, particularly away from the main towns, are poor.

Polio and malaria are common to Yemen. Polio is present in some Red Sea coastal towns and malaria is also present in low-lying areas along the Red Sea.

There have been reports of a dengue fever outbreak in the Arabian Gulf coast and in the western coastal towns of al-Hodeidah and Mokha and the hill area of al-Dali’. The most recent outbreak occurred in Shabwa province, in southern Yemen, where nearly 1,000 people have been infected with dengue since mid-May 2008. Three of the province's 17 districts have reported cases: Mayfaa, Hotaib, and al-Saeed.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Yemen and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see the Travel Health pages of the FCO website.

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.

Consular registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

ATMs are very scarce outside Sana’a. You are advised to bring US dollars in cash as the easiest convertible currency.