Al Jawf: Yemen's untapped resource-rich province
Al Jawf: Yemen's untapped resource-rich province newspress_en Thu, 11/05/2026 - 04:06 Business & Economy In the battle for Yemen now being waged between the Iran-backed Houthi militia and the Saudi-backed internationally recognised government, the oil-rich Al Jawf governorate in the country’s east has become one of the main fronts. A military offensive launched by Aden-based government forces on…
Al Jawf, a province in northern Yemen, is rich in untapped resources and a strategic battleground in Yemen's ongoing conflict. The province, the largest in the region, is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Houthis to the west, the Empty Quarter desert to the east, and Marib and Sanaa to the south. The Yemeni Armed Forces have recently recaptured several military positions and strategic heights east of Al Jawf's capital, Al Hazm, following intense clashes with the Houthis.
The Houthis control 11 of Al Jawf's 12 districts, but government forces now hold more than 90% of Khabb wa Al Shaaf, the governorate's largest district, which comprises four-fifths of the region's total area. Geological studies indicate that Al Jawf holds significant oil and gas potential, with the Al Jawf oilfield, discovered in 1991 and put into production in 1995, ranked among Yemen's five most important reserves.
The province's historical significance is also notable, with archaeological sites dating back to the ancient Kingdom of Ma'in and the Minaeans, who thrived around 2,500 years ago.
Written by urgent.news from Al Majalla English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
