Yemen · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Sanaa scores 16/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: elevated risk — reconsider. No, Sanaa is not safe for travelers. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (high risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Yemen · Assessed 29 July 2026
16
/ 100
Safer than ~5% of countries
Score capped at 18 — Level 4 advisory — "Do Not Travel". No other indicator can raise the score above this.
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). FCDO advises against all travel to Yemen FCDO advises against all travel to the whole of the Yemen due to the unpredictable security conditions.”
Updated 2026-07-22T12:47:16Z
Full advisory →Avoid all travel
“Canada's official risk level for Yemen: avoid all travel.”
Updated 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
HighWhile specific data on visitor robbery is scarce, the general crime index is high, and political instability exacerbates risks.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching are potential risks in crowded areas, though the overarching security situation makes these minor concerns compared to other threats.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Extremely Negative
31/100
There is no discernible consumer sentiment data available for Sanaa, reflecting the absence of tourism and the extreme danger for visitors.
No, Sanaa is not safe for travelers.
Sanaa is subject to a 'Do Not Travel' advisory from multiple governments due to severe ongoing conflict and terrorism risks. The city faces significant political instability, high levels of corruption, and a breakdown in the rule of law, making it extremely dangerous for visitors.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Sanaa, Yemen, is unequivocally unsafe for travelers. All official government advisories from the UK, Canada, and implicitly the US (via the 'Do Not Travel' Level 4 rating) strongly recommend avoiding all travel to the country. This is due to the pervasive and severe risks associated with the ongoing civil war, terrorism, and extreme political instability.
The multi-database profile confirms these warnings, highlighting a composite safety index of 14/100, with particularly low scores for conflict and terrorism (23/100) and official guidance (0/100). The rule of law and control of corruption indicators are also critically low, suggesting a breakdown in public order and a high likelihood of encountering corrupt practices, such as bribery, which is reported to affect 77% of public-official interactions. While specific street crime data for visitors is limited, the overall crime index is high, and the homicide rate is comparable to that of the United States.
Recent news from July 2026 indicates continued regional instability directly impacting Yemen, with Houthi attacks on Saudi airports leading to flight cancellations and renewed travel warnings. These events underscore the volatile security environment. Furthermore, health risks are significant, with CDC alerts for Malaria, Polio, Dengue, and Measles, compounded by a lack of readily available hospital data. The air quality is also a concern, rated as 'Moderate' (US AQI 79).
Given these extreme risks, any travel to Sanaa should be avoided. If travel is absolutely unavoidable, it must be undertaken with extreme caution, ideally with professional security escorts, and a thorough understanding of the severe health and safety threats. Travelers must adhere strictly to all government advisories and take all necessary health precautions.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 5 Sanaa districts for visitors and 5 best avoided. See them plotted on the Sanaa safety map.
Old CityavoidUNESCO World Heritage site, but high risk due to ongoing conflict and potential for targeted attacks.
Al-Sabeen DistrictavoidCentral district, but subject to general instability and potential for unrest.
Hadda DistrictavoidResidential area, but proximity to government buildings and potential for conflict spillover.
Airport Road AreaavoidHigh risk due to potential for attacks and general insecurity around transportation hubs.
General Urban AreasavoidWidespread risk of crime, terrorism, and general instability across the city.
07 · After Dark
While specific data on visitor robbery is scarce, the general crime index is high, and political instability exacerbates risks.
After dark, be most careful around Old City, Al-Sabeen District, Hadda District, Airport Road Area. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Sanaa's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
No, Sanaa is not safe for travelers. Sanaa is subject to a 'Do Not Travel' advisory from multiple governments due to severe ongoing conflict and terrorism risks. The city faces significant political instability, high levels of corruption, and a breakdown in the rule of law, making it extremely dangerous for visitors. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Field research flags Old City, Al-Sabeen District, Hadda District, Airport Road Area, General Urban Areas as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
Sanaa ranks #2 of 3 Yemen destinations we've assessed, scoring 16/100. See the Yemen safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
Browse the Yemen safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: sanaa.json (CC BY 4.0).
