Is it okay to use ATMs late in the evening in Yemen or should I stick to daytime withdrawals only? I am a single woman travelling so want to be safe.
Yemen is not a place where you rely on ATM networks. Transactions are handled offline, often in USD or Saudi riyals, and nighttime withdrawal isn’t just discouraged - it’s largely irrelevant to how people function financially right now.
I saw an ATM in Mukalla near a bank, but no one approached it after sunset. Even approaching the machine seemed to draw attention. I had a local friend help me change cash during the day - much safer.
Most ATMs in Yemen are either out of service, don’t accept foreign cards, or are under heavy surveillance. Even in Aden, locals strongly discouraged evening movement. If you need money, physical exchange during daylight hours is the only realistic option.
I was in Sana’a briefly for aid work. ATM access was extremely limited, and cash is almost always exchanged in person or handled via hawala networks. I never saw anyone use an ATM at night - or during the day, really. It's not part of the current financial routine.