PRACTICAL
INFORMATION
HOW TO ENTER YEMEN?
VISAS
MONEY AND CURRENCY
ELECTRICITY
HEALTH AND WELFARE
DIET AND EATING
WHAT TO WEAR?
PHOTOGRAPHY
WORKING HOURS
SHOPPING
SAFETY
HOW TO ENTER YEMEN?
BY PLANE:
Air access to Sana'a International Airport (SAH) (15 km from the
city center) is available with the following airlines:
Other international & domestic airports are in Taizz (Al-Ganad),
Aden, Al Mukalla (Al-Riyan) and Hudaida. Airport taxes are
included in all rates (subject to change).
BY LAND:
Access from Saudi Arabia through the border cities of Harad or
al Buqal and from Oman through Habarut or Masyouna.
BY SEA:
Seaports: Hudaida, Aden, Mokha and Al Mukalla.
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VISAS
There are two ways of obtaining a Yemeni visa:
Visitors can get an entry visa to the Republic of Yemen from
any Yemeni Embassy or consulate in his or her home country. If your stay lasts no longer than one month there is no need to register at police stations or to apply for an exit visa.
Citizens from EU countries, the US, Canada, Japan, and
Australia can obtain a one month tourist visa at the airport.
TIME ZONE
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) + 3 hrs.
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MONEY AND CURRENCY
 The
country's currency is the Yemeni Riyal (YR). Bank notes of 10,
20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 are in circulation and have English
and Arabic numbers.
Foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks, money changers and
hotels. Major credit cards are accepted in international hotels
and a limited number of retailers.
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ELECTRICITY
The voltage in Yemen is 220 V, 50-60 Hz. Five star hotels
provide both options i.e. 110 V or 220 V.
HEALTH AND WELFARE
No official vaccinations are required by law, although it is advised that you consult your physician before departing. If you will be traveling to the tropical coastal region of Northern Tihama (north of Hudaydah) or Soqotra, anti-malaria drugs are recommended. As a general rule you should NOT drink the tap water in Yemen. Bottled water is a safe and widely available alternative.
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DIET AND EATING
RESTURANTS:
Hundreds of typical Yemeni restaurants, that are
very simple, but, with good Yemeni food, are available throughout
the country. In the main towns like Sana’a, Taizz, Aden and
Hudaida there are also some good Western and Oriental
restaurants. Many 4 and 5 star hotels serve a mix of Western and local cuisine.
FOOD:
 An
important feature of Yemeni food is that it is always prepared
fresh. The Yemeni diet is simple and differs from regions to
region, but basic dishes are the same. It includes bread, rice,
vegetables, beans, chicken, fish, beef and lamb.
BREAKFAST: A typical Yemeni breakfast consists of full (a stew
with brown beans, tomato, onion and chili), fasuliya (fried
beans), beyth (fried eggs with onion and tomatoes) or kebda
(liver cooked with spices). Yemenis usually eat them with hobs,
big, flat, pancake shape bread, from wheat flour, sometimes
covered with black sesame seeds.
 LUNCH:
Lunch is the main Yemeni meal and it is served between 11.00 and
13.30. After this hour you’ll hardly find any restaurants open.
The national dish that is usually served for lunch is a thick,
fiery, spicy green stew called salta that basically consists
from lamb or chicken with lentils, beans, chickpeas, coriander,
fenugreek and some other spices.
In some places you can find fatta, a dish made from dry bread
soaked in honey, soup or milk. The one prepared with milk is a
common meal that they eat before the sunrise prayer in the month
of Ramadan.
DINNER: Dinner is usually a light meal that is served after the sunset prayer.
DRINKS: The everyday drink in Yemen is shai (tea), drunk from small
glasses at every occasion. It is usually very sweet, but after
some days one gets used to it. There are two kinds of tea: the
one prepared with milk is called shai ma halib, without milk it
is called shai ahmar.
Yemenis drink two kinds of coffee, one is prepared from coffee
beans and it is called bohn. A more common drink is kishr or
khahva which is prepared from coffee bean shells, cinnamon and
ginger. Bottled mineral water, soft drinks and juices in tins
are available everywhere in the country.
ALCOHOL
Yemen is an Islamic country and alcohol is prohibited. Tourists
should avoid drinking alcohol in public places, or in the car
while traveling out of respect for the Yemenis. Alcohol can be
obtained in some five-star hotels in big cities but the prices
are very high.
Non alcoholic bear (Becks and Amstel) can be found in many
places.
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WHAT TO WEAR?
 Yemen
is an Islamic country and clothing should be modest. Light
clothes from natural materials are recommended, but you should
avoid clothing with short sleeves or that are sleeveless. Woman should
cover their upper arms and legs. It is wise to bring a hat or
scarf for protection from the sun. A Yemeni scarf is a very
usueful and can be used when visiting mosques as well as for
protection against the dust and wind. In the winter months the
nights and early mornings in the mountain areas are relatively
cold; therefore a warm pullover or a jacket is useful.
Beach wear is acceptable at beach clubs, hotels and public
beaches outside the cities.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
 It
is not polite to photograph women without their consent.
Avoid photographing military installations.
WORKING HOURS
Government offices, banks, and some commercial
companies are open from 8:00 to 15:00, five days a week,
excluding Thursday and Friday, the weekly holiday.
The private sector works generally in two shifts, from
8:00 to 12:30 and 16:00 to 20:00.
Commercial shops and stores are open everyday from
8.00 till 17.00 and some of them till 22.00 in the night.
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OFFICIAL HOLIDAYS
- 1 January (New Year)
- 1 May (World Labor Day)
- 22 May (Unity Day)
- 26 September (The September revolution)
- 14 October (The October revolution)
- 30 November (Independence Day from the British
occupation)
MOVEABLE PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
ISLAMIC NEW YEAR:
10th February 2005 / 31st January 2006 / 20th of January 2007 /
9th of January 2008
PERIOD OF RAMADAN:
- 2004: 15th of October till 14th November
- 2005: 4th of October till 2nd November
- 2006: 23rd of September till 22nd of October
- 2007: we don't know for sure yet, itmight be from
13th of September till 12nd of October
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SHOPPING
 There
are many traditional industries and handicrafts in Yemen which
have been handed down from generation to generation. Such
industries and handicrafts are characterized by their beauty and
attractiveness, particularly those associated with architecture,
ornaments and decoration, traditional weapons, clothes and
garments, earthenware and stoneware, leather products, and tools
and materials made of palm fiber and leaves, etc. One can buy
these products in traditional markets in many cities and at the
weekly markets called suqs.
Yemeni men often wear one of several types of skirts, called
"futa" rather than pants and a head scarf while tribesmen wear the
dress, called "thaub.". But the tribesmen are best known by the
jambiya, curved dagger, carried in a scabbard on a wide belt at
the front side of the body.
 The
clothing of Yemeni women includes black dress called balto, or
colorful robes, shawls, and veils.
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SAFETY
Yemen is a very safe country. Visitors can venture out around
the city or villages at any time of the day or night, either by
taxi or on foot. A tourist permit is required (this can be
obtained through our or any other travel agency) if you
wish to explore the country and move from city to city on your own.
FIRST AID OR HOSPITALS
Hospitals in Sana’a:
- Al Thawra Hospital: Tel: 246 366
- Al Jumhuri Hospital: Tel: 274 285
- Azal Hospital: Tel: 200 000
- German Hospital: Tel: 418 688
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Yemenia