Yemen Travel Guide

Yemen — Country and Tourist Information

Browse the Yemen Photo Gallery

Country Facts

Location: Middle East, Arabian Peninsula.
Language: Arabic. English is widely spoken as a second language.
Area: 536,869 sq km (207,286 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 3.
Electricity: 220/230 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 22.2 million (2007 estimate).
Population Density: 40.04 per sq km.
Capital City: Sana’a. Population: 1 million (2005 estimate).
Government: Republic since 1990.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad Mujawar since 2007.
Head of State: President Ali Abdullah Saleh since 1990.
Religion: Sunni Muslim (especially in the north) and Shia Muslim, with some small Christian and Hindu communities. There is also a small Jewish minority.

Recent History

At the most recent election for the House of Representatives, in April 2003, the General People’s Congress (GPC) took an overall majority with 238 seats; most of the remainder were taken by Al-Islah. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was re-elected to a further seven-year term in the September 2006 presidential elections (despite previously declaring he would not run), winning 77% of the vote. It was, however, the first time he had faced a serious challenge at the polls. His main rival, Faisal al-Shamlan, gained 21.8% of the vote.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +967. Other than hotel land lines, Skype or another VOIP service may be the best way to call home.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. GSM coverage is good in the west and in coastal areas of the east but 3G data coverage is currently non-existent.

Internet

Increasingly internet cafes are opening throughout Yemen and many hotels now have Wi-Fi facilities.

Media

All broadcasting is controlled by the Ministry of Information through the Public Corporation for Radio and Television. Satellite television is widely available. The main government-owned newspaper is Al Thawra (www.althawranews.net) and the ruling party’s print mouthpiece is Al Motamar (www.almotamar.ne/en). Several independent English language newspapers exist including Yemen Times (www.yementimes.com), Yemen Observer (www.yobserver.com). UK newspapers are not generally available.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe from Sana'a takes about four days; mail to and from other towns may take longer.Sat-Thurs 0800-1400 and 1600-2000.

Press

• Daily and weekly Arabic newspapers include 26 September, Al-Jumhuriaya and Al-Thawra.
• The Yemen Observer and The Yemen Times are published in English.

Radio

•State-run Republic of Yemen Radio operates two stations.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011- December 2012 period.
2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
15 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
1 May Labor Day
22 May National Unity Day
30 Aug - 31 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
26 Sep Revolution Day
14 Oct National Day
6 Nov - 7 Nov Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
26 Nov Muharram (Islamic New Year)
30 Nov Independence Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
4 Feb Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
1 May Labor Day
22 May National Unity Day
19 Aug Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
26 Sep Revolution Day
14 Oct National Day
25 Oct Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
15 Nov Muharram (Islamic New Year)
30 Nov Independence Day
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information

Yemen Tourism Promotion Board

Al-hassabah, PO Box 5607, Sana’a, Yemen
Tel: (1) 251 033/5/6/7.
Website: www.yementourism.com

Embassy of the Republic of Yemen in the UK

57 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2ED, UK
Tel: (020) 7584 6607.
Website: www.yemenembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1600; 1000-1430 (visa section).