Yemen's island paradise of Socotra a haven for ecotourists – in pictures

Dubbed the 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean,' the unique wildlife and sandy beaches attract hundreds of travellers despite the country's civil war

Fishermen take their boat to sea, off Shoab beach, on the Yemeni Island of Socotra. Yemen is hoping its Socotra archipelago will become a dream destination despite the country's nightmarish conflict. The four islands and two rocky islets home to some 50,000 people have remained relatively untouched by the war that has devastated the mainland, with adventurous travellers showing a growing interest in visiting. AFP

The Arher sand beach on Socotra Island. Located in the Indian Ocean, about 200km south of the Yemeni mainland, the Socotra archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation – with its lush landscape, distinctive trees, unique animals and turquoise waters home to dolphins. AFP

Desert rose (Adenium socotranum) plants grow on Di-Hamri mountain, on Socotra Island. AFP

A man stands at the top of a peak on Di-Hamri mountain. The four islands and two rocky islets, home to some 50,000 people, have remained relatively untouched by the war that has devastated Yemen's mainland, with adventurous travellers showing a growing interest in visiting. AFP

Dragon's blood (Dracaena cinnabari) trees at the top of Dixam mountain on Socotra island AFP

Fishermen wade in the water by a boat off Shoab beach. AFP

A fresh water spring on the mountain of Homhil on Socotra island. AFP

With its lush landscape, distinctive trees, unique animals and turquoise waters home to dolphins, Yemen is hoping its Socotra archipelago will become a dream destination despite the country's nightmarish conflict.

Lying in the Indian Ocean 200 kilometres off the Yemeni coast, the four islands and two rocky islets are home to 50,000 people and have remained relatively untouched by the war that has devastated the mainland.

While most of Yemen is embroiled in a conflict that erupted in 2015 between Houthi rebels and the government – plus the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic – adventurous travellers are showing a growing interest in visiting Socotra.

Many set off from the UAE, which is close to the authorities that control the islands.

"Fortunately, Socotra has never been affected by the war dynamics of the Yemeni mainland," local travel agency Welcome to Socotra told AFP.

"No tensions or fights have ever been reported, hence there is no reason for tourists to worry."

Since flights resumed with a chartered Air Arabia aircraft once a week from Abu Dhabi, the agency has received "hundreds" of requests, it said.

Yemen, already the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula even before the war, has for years been trying to develop the archipelago into a hub for ecotourism.

Despite the reassuring words and the lure of the pure white beaches, Socotra hit the headlines in June 2020 when the Southern Transitional Council seized it from the government.

The two sides have since established a power-sharing deal brokered by Saudi Arabia, substantially dialling down tensions in the south.

Socotra is located just 250 kilometres from the Horn of Africa, and 1,000 kilometres from the southern city of Aden where Yemen's government is based.

It is famed for its unique biodiversity: nearly one-third of its 825 plants and 90 per cent of its reptile species are considered unique to the island, according to the UN's cultural agency Unesco.

The unique and spectacular vegetation, such as the Dragon's Blood Tree with its distinctive umbrella-shaped canopy and red sap, has earned it a listing as a World Heritage Site.

"Socotra is of particular importance to the Horn of Africa's biodiversity hotspot," Unesco says on its website.

"As one of the most biodiversity-rich and distinct islands in the world, [it] has been termed the 'Galapagos of the Indian Ocean'."