Houthis Crush Private Sector: Confiscations, Extortion and Shutdowns Shake Business in Yemen
Houthi-controlled areas witnessed a sharp escalation in repression against the private sector in recent hours, in a campaign that has turned the investment environment into a space of coercion, theft, and ideological enforcement.
In Sana'a, a modern event hall worth over 500 million Yemeni Riyals, owned by businessman Ahmed Mehdi Al-Hajri, was forcibly shut down by the Houthis despite holding full permits. The district manager was dismissed for "collusion", as the Houthis plan to turn nearby land into a religious center modeled after the Iranian system.
In Taiz, the Houthis imposed an annual 200 million Riyal "security" fee on the Chemico paint and chemicals factory, despite no credible threats. Armed elements were deployed inside the premises, and partners were barred from entry to facilitate takeover.
In Sana'a again, the popular "Al-Kindi" restaurant chain announced the permanent closure of one branch and the impending shutdown of family sections in another, due to what sources say is intense pressure, illegal levies, and ideological restrictions by the Houthis.
In Dhamar, the “Saqr Media Center” was forced to close permanently after two years of operation in media training and podcasting, following repeated summonses and intimidation by Houthi security forces.
These actions reflect a systematic campaign to dismantle the private sector and subjugate it to the armed ideological structure the Houthis are promoting.
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