Transportation

As Sana’a is a quite a big city containing many randomly sprawling districts, small minibuses or “dababs” are very convenient as a short, cheap hop from one neighborhood to another. A normal dabab fare ranges from YR 15 to YR 30, depending on how far you want to go. Dababs run from 6 in the morning to around 1 at night, making them the vehicle of choice for a range of low-income workers – be wise and avoid early morning and late night rides, especially when travelling alone. Although these buses are generally safe, a pickpocket might occasionally try his luck on an unsuspecting tourist. Dababs usually stick to the main roads within the city. They can be hailed by waving an arm at an approaching one. Be careful when getting on or off, as they seldom come to a complete halt.

Taxis are the most popular form of transport within Sana’a. The complex network of roads and side streets in the crowded city can be quite daunting especially for foreigners so taxis are the easy way to go. They can be quite inexpensive when used for groups of three to four people.

Hiring out a car is much more convenient than contracting a full day taxi if you have the bucks. You get your own driver, usually bilingual unlike most of the taxi drivers around town. You pay for the gas or the number of hours, depending on your package type, but it is a more satisfying experience overall.

Sana’a houses one of Yemen’s eight airports.

Sana’a is not one of the friendliest cities to be driving around in. The traffic is chaotic, rules are usually disregarded, and fellow drivers are often impatient and impolite.