Yemen Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Yemeni Business

TL;DR. Yemen has been in civil war since 2015. The internationally-recognised government (now the Presidential Leadership Council, operating from Aden) holds nominal authority over the Commercial Register under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, but actual administrative capacity is severely degraded. The Houthi movement (Ansar Allah) controls Sanaa and much of northwestern Yemen including most commercial infrastructure. The Houthis are designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) and Specially Designated National (SDN) by OFAC. Foreign compliance buyers face a fragmented registry, active conflict conditions, and material sanctions risks.

Political context

Yemen’s civil war, which escalated in 2015 with Saudi-led coalition intervention, has created a divided administrative reality:

• Internationally-recognised government (IRG): The Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), based in Aden, is recognized by the UN and most Western governments as the legitimate authority. The PLC nominally governs the Commercial Register through the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
• Houthi administration (Ansar Allah): The Houthis control Sanaa, Hodeidah, and the northern highlands where the majority of Yemen’s pre-war commercial activity was concentrated. The Houthis operate their own administrative structures in controlled areas, including some form of commercial registration.

As of May 2026, the UN-brokered peace process remains incomplete. The Houthis’ maritime attacks on Red Sea shipping from late 2023 have added a material international dimension to the conflict, with US, UK, and coalition military responses. [VERIFY: current conflict status and any ceasefire developments as of May 2026]

What is the official Yemen business registry?

Yemen’s Commercial Register is maintained by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) (وزارة الصناعة والتجارة) of the internationally-recognised government. The MIT is nominally at mit.gov.ye, though the portal’s functionality and accessibility are severely degraded. [VERIFY: current operational status of mit.gov.ye as of 2026]

Yemen’s company law framework is based on the Commercial Companies Law No. 22 of 1997 (Republic of Yemen). Registered entity types include:

• Public shareholding companies
• Limited liability companies (شركة ذات مسؤولية محدودة)
• Partnerships
• Sole establishments
• Branches of foreign companies

Commercial registration offices existed in each governorate. Under conflict conditions, many of these offices are non-functional, damaged, or operating with severely reduced capacity. The Aden-based commercial registration office has the most consistent functioning under the IRG.

OFAC sanctions: Houthis designated

OFAC designated Ansar Allah (the Houthis) as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in January 2024, following their attacks on Red Sea shipping. This designation prohibits US persons from transactions with the Houthis and Houthi-controlled entities. The SDN list includes Houthi leadership and affiliated entities.

The Biden administration initially reversed an earlier (Trump-era) Foreign Terrorist Organization designation in 2021; the SDGT designation in 2024 reinstated restrictions without the full FTO designation. [VERIFY: current US Houthi designation status (FTO vs. SDGT) as of May 2026]

Practical implication. Any Yemeni company in Houthi-controlled territory (Sanaa, Hodeidah, Hajjah, Sa’ada, and adjacent governorates) requires careful OFAC analysis to determine whether transacting would constitute dealing with a Houthi-controlled entity. This is a factual inquiry requiring current intelligence on territorial control and company beneficial ownership.

EU and UN. The EU designates Houthi individuals under sanctions programs. The UN Security Council Yemen Sanctions Committee (established under UNSCR 2140) designates individuals who threaten peace and stability. See un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2140.

FATF status

Yemen is on the FATF grey list (Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring). Yemen has been on the grey list since 2010, reflecting persistent and severe deficiencies in its AML/CFT framework. The civil war has fundamentally disrupted whatever AML/CFT infrastructure existed. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

What foreign buyers can access

Very little through official channels. Commercial registration is effectively inaccessible for foreign buyers trying to verify Yemeni entities remotely.

Aden-based operations. For companies registered in or operating from government-controlled southern Yemen (Aden, Marib, Hadramawt in contested areas), the IRG Ministry of Industry and Trade commercial registration offices in Aden may be contactable through local legal counsel. Turnaround for certified documents is measured in weeks.

Pre-war commercial databases. International commercial databases (Dun & Bradstreet, Kompass) may have pre-war entries for Yemeni companies. Treat these as historical indicators only; current status, beneficial ownership, and operations will have changed materially in a decade of conflict.

Yemen Chamber of Commerce. The Federation of Yemen Chambers of Commerce and Industry maintains limited business directories, primarily accessible for pre-war registered companies.

Diaspora networks. Yemeni diaspora communities in the GCC (particularly UAE and Saudi Arabia) have maintained some commercial relationships with Yemen. UAE-based agents with Yemen connections are sometimes the most practical route for IRG-area business verification.

Practical tips for compliance buyers

• Determine territorial control first. Before any verification attempt, establish whether the target company operates in IRG-controlled or Houthi-controlled territory. This determines the applicable sanctions risk and the verification pathway.
• Houthi-territory entities require escalation. Any entity operating in Houthi-controlled areas requires OFAC screening and legal analysis before any engagement.
• Humanitarian operations. OFAC has published general licenses for humanitarian activities in Yemen. NGOs and aid organizations should verify current license scope at ofac.treasury.gov.
• No digital financial infrastructure. Yemen’s banking system is fragmented between IRG and Houthi banking structures. International transfers are highly constrained. Even where a transaction is technically permissible, payment execution may be practically impossible.
• Enhanced due diligence is baseline. FATF grey list, active conflict, sanctions complexity, and registry inaccessibility mean enhanced due diligence is the minimum acceptable standard for any Yemeni counterparty.

FAQ

Can I search Yemeni company records online?

Effectively no, for foreign buyers as of 2026. The MIT portal’s functionality is severely degraded. Certified records require local counsel in Aden (for IRG-area companies).

Are all Yemeni companies sanctioned?

No. Houthi-designated entities and individuals are on the OFAC SDN list. Non-Houthi Yemeni private companies are not presumptively sanctioned. Standard SDN screening applies. The practical challenge is determining beneficial ownership given conflict-era opacity.

Is Yemen on the FATF grey list?

Yes, since 2010. Yemen has been on the FATF grey list continuously for over a decade. Check current status at fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between the IRG and Houthi administrations for compliance purposes?

The internationally-recognised government (Presidential Leadership Council, Aden) is the legitimate legal authority under international law, and its registration actions carry legal weight under Yemeni company law. The Houthi administration in Sanaa is not internationally recognized; the Houthis are designated by OFAC as a SDGT. A company registered only under Houthi administration may have a legally uncertain status and creates direct OFAC sanctions risk.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: OFAC Yemen/Houthi Sanctions (ofac.treasury.gov); UN Security Council 2140 Sanctions Committee (un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/2140); FATF Yemen Country Page (fatf-gafi.org); EU Restrictive Measures Yemen (eeas.europa.eu). [VERIFY:] flags throughout reflect active conflict and rapidly changing sanctions environment.