Step back in time to this cheap and cheerful pre-oil Arabia.

After more upsets than a Delhi belly, Yemen is slowly becoming known as the 'undiscovered pearl of the Peninsula' by travellers in the know. Although the country is gradually modernising, you'll find plenty of old-style Arabia - from spicy souqs to sumptuous palaces - wherever you go.

Travel Warning: Attacks on Foreigners - Unrest in the North

On March 18, a mortar attack on a school near the American Embassy in Sana'a killed one person and injured several others. An ambush in Hadramout in January resulted in the deaths of two tourists and injuries to four others, while in June 2007 a suicide bombing killed several people, including seven tourists in Ma'rib, 170km (110mi) east of Sana'a. The security situation in the country is deteriorating and travellers should exercise extreme caution, especially in areas frequented by foreigners, and monitor the news for any developments.

Ongoing fighting between the government and militant groups in the Sa'dah region in the north, and incidents of foreigner kidnappings, means travellers need to be well informed before visiting Yemen. Travellers should monitor news services for any developments and respect any local advice regarding unsafe areas.

severity: High-level alert

Fast Facts

Country Full Name

Republic of Yemen

Population

21,000,000

Currency

Name: Yemeni Rial
Code: YER
Symbol: YRI

Electrical Plugs

British-style plug with two flat blades and one flat grounding blade Japanese-style plug with two parallel flat blades South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin
220/230V 50Hz

Languages Spoken

Official: Arabic

Time Zones

GMT/UTC +3 

Country Dialing Code

+967

Weights & Measures

Metric

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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

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