Saudi Arabia has announced $368 million in additional aid for Yemen in a package that will support government finances, fuel supplies and health services, as the war-torn country grapples with deepening economic woes.
The Saudi foreign ministry said on Saturday that the support, equivalent to 1.38 billion riyals, was ordered by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman “to help achieve security, stability and development for the Yemeni people” and to shore up Yemen’s financial and monetary systems.
The package includes direct budgetary support for Yemen’s internationally recognized government, fuel shipments, and operational costs for the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Hospital in Aden, according to the ministry statement.
Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani hailed the move as a “critical lifeline” for his country. “This generous support will strengthen the government’s ability to meet obligations to citizens, including salary payments and public services, and restore confidence in state institutions,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He added that the timing of the aid “sends a clear message to the international community that Yemen’s stability is integral to regional and global security, and reflects the historic ties between the two nations.”
Saudi Arabia provided Yemen with $500 million in December 2024, including a $300 million deposit at the central bank and $200 million to cover part of the government’s $1.2 billion budget deficit. That support was channeled through the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) to bolster food security, salaries and operating expenses while backing economic reforms.
Riyadh says its assistance has helped raise Yemen’s foreign currency reserves, stabilize the riyal, ease inflation, and lower prices of imported fuel and food. It has also enabled imports of key staples including wheat, rice, sugar and cooking oil.
Saudi grants of fuel derivatives have powered some 80 electricity stations across Yemen, while SDRPY has launched 263 projects in sectors including education, health, water, energy, transport, agriculture and fisheries, as well as government capacity building.
