Wadhah Al-Awlaqi has served as the Chief Economist at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies since 2019. He has over a decade of experience in economic research, analysis, and policy development focused on Yemen. He held several key positions at the Central Bank of Yemen, overseeing strategic planning, financial reporting, budget management, and accounting operations. He holds an MBA in Finance from the prestigious KAIST Business School in South Korea.
Wadhah's latest contributions
The Yemen Review Quarterly: July-September 2025
The Economy
In its Yemen Food Security Update, the World Food Programme (WFP) indicated that the country’s food security situation continues to deteriorate, with 62 percent of surveyed households not having adequate access to food in August, despite an 8 percent month-on-month improvement. Sixty-four percent of affected households were located in areas under … Read more
The Yemen Review Quarterly: July-September 2025
The Houthi group () resumed attacks on Israel on July 6, following a lull during the 12-day Israel-Iran war. Drones and missiles repeatedly targeted Ben Gurion Airport and the southern port city of Eilat, along with energy and military infrastructure across central and southern Israel. On August 22, the group used cluster munitions in a missile … Read more
The Yemen Review Quarterly: April-June 2025
The Economy
Yemen is hurtling toward a humanitarian crisis due to a confluence of factors: sharp aid cuts, escalating conflict, crippling sanctions, and a collapsing currency.
On April 7, the Trump administration ended almost all US aid to Yemen as part of sweeping cuts for more than a dozen countries. The cuts came at a critical time, as Yemen was already … Read more
The Yemen Review Quarterly: April-June 2025
On May 6, the US abruptly suspended its air campaign against the Houthi group (Ansar Allah) as President Donald Trump announced a surprise ceasefire. Both sides reportedly agreed to stop targeting one another; each, unsurprisingly, declared victory. From its outset, the 52-day-long air campaign known as “Operation Rough Rider” was beset by … Read more
A New Prime Minister is Not the Answer
Ever since the internationally recognized government fled from Sana’a after the Houthi takeover in 2014, it has failed to develop a strategy to adapt to its new environment and the challenges it poses. Instead, it has continued to act as if nothing has happened, and only a few tweaks are required to keep going. This can be seen clearly in the … Read more