Prostitution laws in Yemenاليمن
Yemen's Crimes and Penalties Law (Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994) punishes anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution with up to three years' imprisonment or a fine (Art. 278). Paid sex is also zina: the hadd punishment is 100 lashes for an unmarried man or woman, plus up to a year's imprisonment at the court's discretion, and stoning to death for a muhsan (married) offender (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution carries up to three years, up to seven if the act follows, and up to ten or fifteen where the person incited is under 15 or the inciter lives on their earnings (Art. 279). Running a house or place for prostitution carries up to ten years, closure for up to two years and confiscation (Art. 281). A man who consents to prostitution by his wife or a female relative in his care faces up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Practising prostitution is a crime (Art. 278, Crimes and Penalties Law of 1994), and both parties to paid sex also commit zina, a hadd offence (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution, running a brothel and consenting to a female relative's prostitution are separate crimes. This entry describes the 1994 statute; enforcement by the authorities that control different parts of the country was not examined.[1]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine (Art. 278). The act is also zina: 100 lashes as a hadd punishment if the offender is not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan (Art. 263).[1] |
| Buying sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | There is no client-specific offence, but Art. 263 punishes both the man and the woman for zina: 100 lashes if not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who runs a house or any place for debauchery or prostitution is punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment. In every case the court orders the house or place closed for up to two years and confiscates the furniture, equipment and other items found there during the activity.[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution carries up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279). If the person incited is under 15, or the inciter relies for a living on that person's prostitution, the penalty may reach ten years, and fifteen if both apply. Consenting to prostitution by one's wife or a female relative or ward carries up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found, but inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution by any means is an offence carrying up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279).[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine (Art. 278). The act is also zina: 100 lashes as a hadd punishment if the offender is not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan (Art. 263).[1]
Article 265 defines a muhsan person as one who has had intercourse with a spouse under a valid marriage contract that is still continuing, among other conditions.
Note. The official text is in Arabic; the translations are ours. Enforcement in the areas held by the different authorities was not examined.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
There is no client-specific offence, but Art. 263 punishes both the man and the woman for zina: 100 lashes if not muhsan, with up to one year's discretionary imprisonment, and stoning to death if muhsan.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Anyone who runs a house or any place for debauchery or prostitution is punishable by up to ten years' imprisonment. In every case the court orders the house or place closed for up to two years and confiscates the furniture, equipment and other items found there during the activity.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution carries up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279). If the person incited is under 15, or the inciter relies for a living on that person's prostitution, the penalty may reach ten years, and fifteen if both apply. Consenting to prostitution by one's wife or a female relative or ward carries up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No provision specifically on advertising sexual services was found, but inciting another person to debauchery or prostitution by any means is an offence carrying up to three years, or up to seven if the act follows (Art. 279).[1]
Confidence: medium. Applying the incitement offence to advertisements is our reading of the text. Yemen's press and telecommunications laws were not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| قرار جمهوري بالقانون رقم (12) لسنة 1994م بشأن الجرائم والعقوبات Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties Art. 263 · Arts. 278-281 | Chapter 4 of the section on zina, indecent assault and corruption of morals (Arts. 278 to 281) covers debauchery and prostitution; Art. 263 sets the hadd punishment for zina.[1] |
Timeline
- 1994Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties is issued and published in the Official Gazette, issue 19/3, with a chapter on debauchery, prostitution and corruption of morals.[1]
Sources
- قرار جمهوري بالقانون رقم (12) لسنة 1994م بشأن الجرائم والعقوبات (Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties). Public Prosecution of the Republic of Yemen (agoye.gov.ye), 1994. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026