Houthi-run Yemen raises fuel prices in Sanaa after four years of stability

Fuel prices have risen in Sanaa for the first time in about four years, adding to pressure on families in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen. The increase was announced this week in the capital and affects petrol and diesel prices in territory under Houthi control. For many residents, the change is expected to feed directly into transport costs and the price of basic goods.

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The Houthi-run Yemen Petroleum Company said the increase was driven by a global rise in fuel prices and described it as temporary. According to the report, the price of petrol moved from 4,750 Yemeni riyals, or about $8.90, to 5,250 riyals, or about $9.80, a rise of roughly 10%. The previous price had remained unchanged for about four years in Houthi-held areas, including Sanaa.

Taxi driver Ahmed Yahya, 28, said he fills his vehicle with 10 litres of petrol at the start of his workday and depends on the taxi to support his family. He said the increase was another burden on people already struggling to cope with economic hardship. He also said his monthly food spending could rise from about 75,000 Yemeni riyals to 85,000 riyals if fuel costs continue to climb.

The price rise matters because fuel costs in Yemen affect far more than private transport. Higher fuel prices can quickly push up the cost of moving food, water and other essentials in a country where many households already face severe strain. The report said 18 million people in Yemen already face acute food insecurity, meaning they do not have reliable access to enough food.

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The increase also comes against a wider backdrop of conflict-linked economic disruption. The report linked higher global oil prices this year to the impact of the United States-Israel war on Iran, while also pointing to the Houthis' capture of Yemen's southern Red Sea coast from government forces last week and attacks on Saudi Arabia as factors that have helped drive prices higher. That combination of local fighting and regional tensions has made fuel supply and pricing more volatile.

Yemen's war has repeatedly disrupted markets, transport routes and public services, and the latest price move appears to reflect how quickly conflict conditions can affect daily life. The report said fighting in Yemen has resumed in recent months after a four-year period of relative calm, contributing to the latest increases. In Houthi-controlled areas, the authorities have kept a tight grip on fuel distribution, making official pricing decisions especially significant for residents.

For families in Sanaa and other Houthi-held areas, the immediate concern is whether the increase will remain in place or be reversed. The Yemen Petroleum Company said the rise would be temporary, but no timeframe was given in the report. It is also unclear how far transport fares and food prices will move in response, or whether further changes will follow if global oil prices remain elevated.

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