Tourists stranded on Yemen’s Socotra Island amid UAE-Saudi tensions

Around 600 tourists are stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra after flights were suspended due to escalating geopolitical tensions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.

Visitors, including Americans, Europeans, and Chinese nationals, are unable to leave the UNESCO World Heritage Site, located 380 km from the mainland. Socotra is controlled by the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, which has clashed with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government in Hadramout and al-Mahra provinces, prompting the flight suspensions.

iHeartRadio reported that the United States has prohibited travel to Yemen, including Socotra, and that U.S. authorities cannot provide consular services to citizens on the island.

Yemeni airlines announced they will resume flights to Jeddah on January 7. In the meantime, travelers may need to take commercial ships to Oman while authorities work to restore stability.