Yemen

All governments advise against all travel. Socotra is a separate case

Yemen has been in civil war since 2014 and is the site of one of the world worst humanitarian crises. The UK Foreign Office and all equivalent bodies advise against all travel. There is no consular support, and the risks of kidnap, airstrikes, landmines and detention are severe. This page is reference material.

Before the war, Yemen was among the most architecturally extraordinary countries on earth. Sana’a old city has tower houses of mud brick and white gypsum decoration, some standing for centuries, in a walled settlement inhabited for more than 2,500 years. Shibam, in the Hadhramaut, is a valley town of mud-brick tower blocks up to eleven storeys that has been called the Manhattan of the desert.

Socotra, an island 350 kilometres off the coast, is often discussed separately. It has been described as the most alien-looking place on earth, with dragon blood trees found nowhere else and around a third of its plant species endemic. A small number of tour operators do run trips there via Abu Dhabi, but this remains against government advice and insurance is a serious problem.

Annual events and festivals

• Ramadan (varies) — strictly observed across the country.
• Eid al-Fitr (varies) — the main holiday ending Ramadan.
• Eid al-Adha (varies) — the second Eid, a multi-day holiday.
• Mawlid al-Nabi (varies) — the Prophet birthday, marked with processions in some areas.
• Unity Day (22 May) — marks the 1990 unification of North and South Yemen.
• Revolution Day (26 Sep) — commemorates the 1962 revolution in the north.
• Independence Day (30 Nov) — marks the 1967 British withdrawal from Aden.
• Ashura (varies) — commemorated by Zaydi Shia communities.
• Socotra monsoon season (Jun-Sep) — not a festival, but the period when the island is largely inaccessible.
• Coffee harvest (Oct-Dec) — Yemen gave its name to mocha and still produces distinctive coffee in the highlands.