To get a coffee shop license in Yemen, start by choosing a legal form (most use sole proprietorship) and reserving a trade name, then apply for a Commercial Registration with the Ministry of Industry & Trade and obtain a Tax Card and, where applicable, a Zakat registration. Next, secure the municipal “shop activity” permit from your district council: submit a signed lease (court-stamped), national ID, site plan, equipment list, photos of the façade, waste-disposal contract, and a utilities receipt. Food-service approval requires health cards for staff (medical check at a public clinic), a sanitation inspection (washable surfaces, handwash sink, grease trap), and a Civil Defense no‑objection letter confirming extinguishers (2×6kg dry powder), exit signage, gas-line regulators, and ventilation. Expect parallel processes in Sana’a and Aden with different forms and fees; budget for 250,000–1,500,000 YER in deposits, stamps, and municipal charges, plus annual signage tax and cleaning fees. Typical timeline: 2–6 weeks, faster if you submit a complete file and accompany inspectors on-site. Keep a compliance binder with licenses, invoices, pest-control records, and staff health cards; renew annually. Use a licensed maktab khadamat to courier files and chase stamps; avoid intermediaries without official receipts. Ask for stamped payment slips at counters.
