Memorandum of Understanding

Yemen-Saudi Arabia agreement, 1995

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July 23, 2026

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The Memorandum of Understanding between Yemen and Saudi Arabia, signed in January 1995, was an agreement to negotiate the final determination of their undemarcated border. This border dispute had been a significant source of conflict for Yemen, impacting its foreign policy and relations with neighboring oil-rich states. The agreement reaffirmed the 1934 Treaty of Taif, which had conditionally assigned disputed territories to Saudi Arabia and allowed for international arbitration if negotiations failed. This understanding was a crucial step towards resolving long-standing territorial issues and fostering better relations between the two countries. The final border agreement was signed in June 2000, paving the way for potential economic benefits for Yemen, including aid and employment opportunities for its workers in Saudi Arabia.1

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Yemen
Territorial disputes
…Arabia that led to the Memorandum of Understanding in January 1995. The agreement called for negotiations to finally determine the border and reaffirmed the Ṭāʾif treaty of 1934, which had both conditionally assigned the disputed territories of Asir, Najrān, and Jīzān to Saudi Arabia and confirmed the right of either…
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…Arabia that led to the Memorandum of Understanding in January 1995. The agreement called for negotiations to finally determine the border and reaffirmed the Ṭāʾif treaty of 1934, which had both conditionally assigned the disputed territories of Asir, Najrān, and Jīzān to Saudi Arabia and confirmed the right of either…
Read More