Safety and security in Yemen

• The British Embassy in Sana’a has reopened to the public.
  
  
• We advise against all travel to the Governorate of Sa’ada, due to clashes between Yemeni rebels and government forces from Yemen and Saudi Arabia.
  
  
• We advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Yemen due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and tribal violence. Unless you have an essential reason to be in Yemen you should consider whether you need to remain. See the Political Situation, Terrorism, and Kidnaps sections of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• There is a high threat from terrorism in Yemen including against western, and British, interests. The renewed conflict in Sa’ada has further heightened tensions.  You should avoid places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See the Terrorism section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, especially for shipping which does not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines. See the Sea Travel section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Developments in the region may trigger public unrest.  You should take care to avoid demonstrations, which can turn hostile,and be particularly vigilant in public places.
  
  
• If you wish to drive to travel outside Sana'a, you will need prior permission from the Yemen Tourist Police.  Travelling without such permission is likely to result in detention and possible deportation.  You should be aware that consular assistance outside Sana’a is limited due to the restrictions on travel.
  
  
• Four British nationals required consular assistance in Yemen in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009. During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (10 cases).
  
• We 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 our Travel Insurance page.

Terrorism

There is 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 our Terrorism Abroad page.

You should take 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 avoid places frequented by foreign travellers and expatriates such as hotels, restaurants, and popular sites, which we judge to be of particular risk.

We advise against all travel to the Governorate of Sa'ada. We also advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Yemen due to the threat of terrorism, kidnapping and tribal violence.

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

* On 18 March 2009 there was an attempted suicide attack against a convoy of vehicles on the airport road in Sana'a, approximately 1.5 - 2kms from the entrance to Sana'a International Airport. There were no casualties.
* On 15 March 2009 a group of South Korean nationals were attacked whilst visiting a popular tourist site in Shibam, Hadramaut Governorate. Four South Koreans and one Yemeni national died in the attack. At least four others were injured.
* 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.

Kidnaps

Heavily armed tribes have kidnapped 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'ada, Dhamar, ‘Amran, Ma'rib, Shabwah and Abyan. You should exercise caution when travelling outside urban areas and you should not travel outside cities at night. We recommend that travel outside the major cities is only undertaken when accompanied by a military escort.

On 16 November 2009 a Japanese national was kidnapped on the road between Sana'a and Marib. He was released unharmed after 8 days. A British national, and eight other foreign nationals were kidnapped in the Governorate of Sa'ada on 12 June 2009. Three of those kidnapped were killed and the other six (including the Briton) remain missing. On 31 March 2009 two Dutch expatriates were kidnapped outside Sana'a, and released unharmed after being held for two weeks. A German national and his two Yemeni colleagues kidnapped in Shabwa Governorate and released unharmed on 18 January 2009. Three South African nationals, including two children, were kidnapped on the Aden/Abyan road in the south of Yemen, and released unharmed on 2 January 2009. Three German nationals were kidnapped in Bait Bous, on the outskirts of Sana'a, on 14 December 2008, and 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.

Political Situation

Yemen Country Profile

Since 2004, the Yemeni Government have been fighting an armed uprising by the al Huthi movement and their supporters in Sa'ada Governorate, northern Yemen. There have also been clashes on the Saudi Arabia/Yemen border between the rebels and the Saudi Government since early November 2009. 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 were pockets of fighting in Wadi Bani Hushaish, 20km east of Sana'a. The fighting has varied in intensity, with lulls in hostilities and several agreed cease-fires, most recently in July 2008. In August 2009 there was a revival of heavy fighting in Sa'ada Governorate including the use of air strikes and heavy artillery and there have also been reports of further outbreaks of fighting in Amran and Al Jawf as a result of this new round of conflict. We advise against all 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. There have been demonstrations in both Sana'a and Aden following the escalation of violence in Gaza since late December 2008. Since March 2009 there has been an increase in demonstrations in the south, in particular in the Governorates of Aden, Abyan, Lahj, and Al-Dhali'. Some of these demonstrations have resulted in violence. You should take 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. Travel without such permission is likely to result in detention and possible deportation. You should be aware that the consular assistance we can offer outside Sana'a is 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 Permit.

Driving standards are poor and mountain roads hazardous.

You should avoid all road travel outside the main cities 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.

Air Travel

All flights should be reconfirmed during your stay.

Sea Travel

Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and has occurred as far as 1000 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia. Attacks of piracy and armed robbery against vessels in and around the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin continue to affect only a very small proportion of overall shipping, but are frequent and continuing, proving successful almost exclusively against shipping which has not complied with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures, including on routing. All mariners should follow the 'Best Management Practise for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia' (http://www.icc-ccs.org.uk), published by the International Maritime Bureau. We urge mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa - www.mschoa.org, and to plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

For further information on see our River and Sea Safety page.

Local laws and customs

Local laws reflect the fact that Yemen is an Islamic 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 our Travelling During Ramadan page.

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 our Your Trip page.
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

Your passport should be valid for the duration of your visit to Yemen.

Studying in Yemen

Yemeni authorities require persons wishing to study in Yemen to obtain a letter from the British Embassy in Sana'a. This letter will not be issued to minors without parental consent.

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 Taiz, in southern Yemen.

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

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 our Travel Health and Swine Flu pages.

Insurance

We 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 our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see When Things Go Wrong page.

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.

You should be aware that our ability to assist you outside Sana'a may be limited by the Yemeni authorities' requirement for travel plans to be cleared in advance.

Money

ATMs are very scarce outside Sana'a. You are advised to bring US dollars in cash, as the most easily convertible currency.