Aden (South24 Center)

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On Friday, May 1, 2026, The South24 Center for News and Studies released a new study titled “Voluntary Return in Times of War: From Diaspora Experiences to Development Pathways in Yemen,” authored by researcher Dhaifullah Al-Sufi. The study examines the growing phenomenon of Yemeni nationals returning from abroad despite the ongoing war and deep political and economic divisions.

The report finds that voluntary return increasingly reflects a new socio-economic shift in the relationship between Yemeni migrants and their homeland. For some, life abroad is no longer seen as safe or financially rewarding as it once was, amid rising living costs, stricter immigration and labor policies, and a growing sense of longing for family and national belonging.

The study documents case studies of returnees from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, Jordan, India, and Kenya who have launched ventures in education, healthcare, technology, trade, jewelry, real estate, and coffee. It argues that these experiences highlight the ability of returnees to convert skills, capital, and networks gained abroad into productive local enterprises.

Among its key conclusions, the study notes that voluntary return, while still limited in scale, could become a driver of reconstruction if approached within a coordinated national framework, rather than remaining fragmented individual initiatives. It emphasizes that returnees bring valuable expertise in management, education, healthcare, technology, and investment, and can serve as a bridge between external capital and local needs.

At the same time, the report underscores significant challenges facing returnees, including collapsed infrastructure, currency volatility, limited access to finance, weak legal protections, bureaucratic hurdles, and divergent political and security conditions between areas controlled by the internationally recognized government and those under Houthi control. It concludes that the domestic environment “remains insufficiently prepared to absorb returnees in a way that enables them to settle, invest, and contribute to development.”

The study also features remarks from returnees. Businessman Sami Adnan said, “Yemen needs us, but conditions are harsh. Those who return must be strong and patient.” Academic Dr. Jihad Saleh added, “The country needs us more than ever. Return is not a losing gamble, but a national responsibility. Those who come back to build are planting hope in a time of devastation.

Citing economist Wafiq Saleh, the report notes that remittances reached approximately $3.8 billion in 2024, around 20% of Yemen’s GDP, making them the primary source of foreign currency following the halt of oil and gas exports. Any decline in these flows, he warns, would directly pressure the exchange rate and exacerbate inflation and poverty.

The study recommends that the Yemeni government adopt a comprehensive national strategy for voluntary return, including the establishment of a dedicated unit within the Ministry of Expatriates to address returnee affairs. It also calls for investment and tax incentives for returnee-led businesses, along with streamlined company registration and licensing processes, particularly in education, services, and productive sectors.

It further urges greater engagement from international organizations and the private sector in financing and capacity-building, as well as the launch of social and economic reintegration programs aimed at rebuilding trust between returnees and local communities. Such measures, the study concludes, could position voluntary return as a cornerstone for reconnecting Yemen’s diaspora with the homeland in the post-war period.