Yemen completes evacuation of stranded foreign tourists from Socotra

International

609 international visitors airlifted to Saudi Arabia as authorities announce plans to restore regular air links

Yemeni authorities have completed the evacuation of all foreign tourists who were stranded on Socotra Island, transferring a total of 609 visitors of various nationalities to Saudi Arabia. The operation was carried out via four evacuation flights amid recent security tensions in southern Yemen.

According to the Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the evacuations were conducted in close coordination with Saudi authorities. All tourists were flown safely to King Abdulaziz International Airport, where they were received by local officials.

Final flight marks end of evacuation operation

Yemen’s Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani confirmed that the final evacuation flight departed Socotra earlier on Saturday, formally concluding the operation. Speaking through Yemen’s official media, he said the completion of the airlift demonstrated effective national coordination in managing what he described as a humanitarian situation.

“With the departure of the last flight, the transfer of all stranded foreign tourists has been successfully completed,” al-Eryani said, adding that the authorities had acted swiftly following the disruption of air traffic to the island.

Plans to restore international connectivity

Alongside the completion of the evacuation, al-Eryani announced that regular international flights between Socotra and Jeddah are expected to resume in February. He said the move is intended to help restore confidence in Socotra as a safe destination for international tourism. In addition, Yemen plans to launch a new international air route linking Al-Mokha Airport in southwestern Yemen with Jeddah.

The evacuations began earlier this week after air traffic to Socotra was disrupted due to unrest in parts of southern Yemen, prompting concerns over the ability of foreign visitors to depart the island as scheduled.

Socotra’s strategic and tourism context

Located around 300 kilometres off Yemen’s southern coast, Socotra has in recent years remained relatively accessible by air, particularly via the United Arab Emirates, despite the country’s prolonged conflict. The latest evacuations come against a backdrop of shifting political and military dynamics in southern Yemen, including developments involving the Southern Transitional Council.

Yemen was unified in May 1990, bringing together the former North and South Yemen into the modern Republic of Yemen. Recent events in the south, however, continue to affect perceptions of stability and access, making the restoration of air connectivity to Socotra a key issue for both tourism and international confidence.