Yemen General Tips by Pakistaniguy

Standing along with my Uncle's BMW

on a Sunny Day

Favorite Thing: People have told me that the best time to visit Yemen is between October and March. This is when the day time temperatures are normally pleasant and rain is usually infrequent. In summer from May to September, temperatures along coastal areas regularly exceed 40 C and the humidity is also very unpleasant. Moonsoon comes in March/April and again in August/September but it'll rarely disrupt your travels. In fact, it is a preferable time to visit because the countryside is at its most attractive ! It is the time when tourism picks up again. From 20th December to 10th January you might get some trouble finding room in a decent hotel.

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General Tips: Money Exchanger (Sarafa)

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 27, 2004

One of the many Money Exchangers in

Sana'a.

Favorite Thing: The best place to change your currency into Yemeni Riyals are numerous foreign-exchange offices in Sana'a and in other large towns like Aden. The rates offered rarely vary by 1% and commissions are seldom charged, but it pays to ask for the final amount of Riyals you'll receive before handling over your cash to the cashier !

Fondest Memory:
Foreign exchange offices are mostly signed in English and in Arabic and are mostly open from 9 am to 9 pm daily except Friday. Banks offer slighty lower rates then foreign exchange offices but they are the ones which will change your travellers chaques.

Keep in mind that there is no Black Market so avoid changing your money on the street.

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General Tips: Maktab Al Bareed (The Post Office)

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 27, 2004

Standing in front of the post

office after postage

Favorite Thing: There is a big Post Office on the Tahrir Square. This is the main head office of the post. The cost of sending a post card is 70 YR and for a normal sized envelop is 100 YR to the USA, for Europe is 60YR and 70YR and for Australia/New Zealand is 80YR and 120YR.

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General Tips: Building of Telecommunication

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 27, 2004

Building of Telecommunications on

in Sana'a.

Favorite Thing: The national Telephone system is controlled by the government monopoly, Yemen Communications Company, commonly known as Tele Yemen. There are numerous call centers in every city and town of Yemen. Most of them are open daily from 8 am to 12 midnight !

Fondest Memory: The standard charge for anywhere in Europe, Americas and Australia is about 270YR per minute.

Keep in mind that there are no often no offpeak periods with discounted rates.

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General Tips: Telephone Centre (Aetissalat)

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 27, 2004

One of the many Call Centers.

Favorite Thing: If you are a caller from outside Yemen then u must know that the country code for Yemen is 967 followed by the local area code (minus the zero), then the number. The International access code for Yemen is 00 which must be dialed before the country code. If you are a caller inside Yemen and need assistance, please call 118.

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General Tips: Yemeni Visa for Pakistani Passport Holders

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Written by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 28, 2004

My Yemeni Visa

Favorite Thing: Pakistani Nationals need a Visa for entering Yemen. You cannot apply/initiate visa by yourself in the Embassy. There has to be someone in Yemen who applys for your visa in ministry of foreign affairs and gets it for you. The ministry sends the confirmation to your relative embassy and then u go to your embassy for applying the Visa. I did the same. My uncle applied for my my visa, got my visa and sent the confirmation to Yemeni Embassy in Islamabad. I went to the Embassy. They told me that i have to fill the two forms. Put two photos with white background. Get a medical certificate after being checked for various disease from a particular medical center only. So, After filling the form, i went to the medical center to get myself tested. I got all-clear report Allhamdulliah next morning, so, i took that report to the embassy and applied for the Visa. I got my Visa exactly after 3 hours! The Visa fees was 25 US$ for single entry Yemeni Visitor Visa.

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General Tips: Visa at the Airport

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 28, 2004

View of The Capital of Yemen -

Sanaa !

Favorite Thing: If you arranged your visa by the travel agent or someone in Yemen then there are two ways to get the visa, either by getting visa confirmation in your nearest embassy and applying for visa there. Otherwise, you can ask your sponsorer or the travel agent to arrange your visa at the Visa Counter in Sana'a Airport, once you'll land there you can pay the visa fees and get your visa. Expect the long Ques at that counter !

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General Tips: Government's Visa Policy

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 28, 2004

View of The Capital of Yemen -

Sanaa !

Favorite Thing: The Government of the Republic of Yemen refuses entry and transit facilities to holders of Israeli passports, or holders of passports containing visas valid or expired for Israel or any indication, such as entry or exit stamps, that the holder has visited Israel.

Original Passport valid for at least 6 months after date of departure required by all.

Visas are required by all except:

(a) Nationals of Iraq, Jordan and Syria;

(b) Transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft provided they hold valid onward or return documentation and are not leaving the airport.

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General Tips: General Yemeni Visa Information

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 28, 2004

View of The Capital of Yemen -

Sanaa !

Favorite Thing: If you are looking for a tourist visa, then look up on the internet at http://www.yemenembassy.org which is maintained by Yemeni Embassy in Washington D.C. I've come to know that other Nationals from western countries can apply for One month tourist visa in the nearest Yemeni Embassy. You'll need to provide your original passport valid for 6 months even after the expiration of your visa, one passport size photo and visa fees of 50 US$ single and 100 US$ double entry visas. You can also apply for Yemeni Visa in U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman. Another way of doing is to contact a travel agent in Yemen and fill- the guarantee so that he can take your responsibility and arrange a visa for you. But then you should book a tour with them once u are there.

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General Tips: Yemeni Visas for British Passport holders

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Updated by Pakistaniguy

on Mar 28, 2004

View of The Capital of Yemen -

Sanaa !