Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Yemen: 7 legal requirements + 8 other things worth knowing.
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Tick before you go
7 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
1949 IDP plus national licence
Yemen recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried alongside your original UK/EU photocard licence and passport at all times.
Source: AA IDP guide →Visa obtained in advance
British and EU nationals need a visa before arrival; visas on arrival are not available and overland borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman are effectively closed to tourists.
Source: Entry requirements →Local third-party insurance mandatory
Green Card is not valid in Yemen, so third-party motor insurance must be purchased locally; almost no Western insurer will cover a private vehicle driven into Yemen.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road with overtaking on the left.
Speed limits 100 / 60 / 40 km/h
Typical limits are 100 km/h on open highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 40 km/h in urban areas, though signage and enforcement are inconsistent outside Sana'a and Aden.
Zero alcohol: BAC 0.0 g/L
Alcohol is banned for Muslims and effectively prohibited for drivers; any detectable blood-alcohol level can mean arrest, prison and corporal punishment under Sharia law.
Active conflict zones and checkpoints
Houthi, government and tribal checkpoints are frequent; expect armed searches, document checks and demands for escorts, and never drive after dark due to bandits, IEDs and air strikes.
Source: Safety and security →The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to the whole of Yemen due to ongoing armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping and Houthi missile/drone activity; self-driving as a tourist is not realistic and most insurers will void cover.
FCDO Yemen adviceYemen recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried alongside your original UK/EU photocard licence and passport at all times.
AA IDP guideBritish and EU nationals need a visa before arrival; visas on arrival are not available and overland borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman are effectively closed to tourists.
Entry requirementsGreen Card is not valid in Yemen, so third-party motor insurance must be purchased locally; almost no Western insurer will cover a private vehicle driven into Yemen.
Dial 191 for police and 199 for ambulance, but emergency response is unreliable; the British Embassy in Sana'a is closed and consular assistance inside Yemen is severely limited.
UK in YemenTraffic drives on the right-hand side of the road with overtaking on the left.
Typical limits are 100 km/h on open highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 40 km/h in urban areas, though signage and enforcement are inconsistent outside Sana'a and Aden.
Alcohol is banned for Muslims and effectively prohibited for drivers; any detectable blood-alcohol level can mean arrest, prison and corporal punishment under Sharia law.
Front seatbelts are compulsory and handheld mobile use while driving is prohibited; rear-seat belt use is rarely observed in practice.
Carry a warning triangle, full-size spare wheel, jerry can of fuel and basic tools; recovery services do not exist outside major cities and breakdowns in remote areas are dangerous.
Yemen has no motorways, no vignette system and no electronic toll roads; the main intercity routes are single-carriageway and heavily affected by checkpoints, damage and landmines.
Houthi, government and tribal checkpoints are frequent; expect armed searches, document checks and demands for escorts, and never drive after dark due to bandits, IEDs and air strikes.
Safety and securityUnexploded ordnance and landmines are widespread, particularly in Marib, Hodeidah, Taiz and along the Saudi border; never leave the paved surface or use unmarked tracks.
ATMs and card payments are effectively unavailable; bring US dollars in cash and exchange at money changers, noting that rates differ sharply between Houthi-held Sana'a and government-held Aden.
Petrol and diesel prices fluctuate wildly with shortages and black-market supply; queues of several hours at filling stations are common, so top up at every opportunity.
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Yemen.
Start planning →Places to add to your Yemen road trip.
Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road with overtaking on the left.
Typical limits are 100 km/h on open highways, 60 km/h on rural roads and 40 km/h in urban areas, though signage and enforcement are inconsistent outside Sana'a and Aden.
Alcohol is banned for Muslims and effectively prohibited for drivers; any detectable blood-alcohol level can mean arrest, prison and corporal punishment under Sharia law.