RESTRICTED  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
20 July 2007 
 (07-3097) 
Working Party on the 
Accession of Yemen Original:   English 
 
 
  
ACCESSION OF YEMEN 
 
Offer on Specific Commitments in Services
 
 
Revision  
   The following submission, dated 16 July 2007, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the Republic of Yemen. 
 
_______________ 
 
  Yemen, being a least developed country, has pr epared this offer taking in consideration the 
General Council Decision on Accession of Least-developed Countries of the 10th of December 2002, 
in particular the guidelines for market access negotiations, which read  as follows: 
"WTO Members shall exercise restraint in seek ing concessions and commitments on trade in 
goods and services from acceding LDCs, taking in to account the levels of concessions and 
commitments undertaken by existing WTO LDC Members." 
 Further, in preparing this offer, Yemen has also  taken into consideration the letter and spirit of 
the Modalities for Negotiations on Trade in Serv ices in the Doha Round, September 2003, which 
envisage flexibility for LDCs. 
 Yemen also expects members to facilitate and accelerate its accession in accordance with 
paragraph 42 of the Doha Ministeria l Declaration which reads as follows: 
"We agree to work to facilitate and acceler ate negotiations with acceding LDCs;" and 
"We reaffirm the commitments we undertook at LDC-III." 
 Yemen reserves the right to make modifications  in this offer and to make any technical 
changes and corrections in it, as may be necessary. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
 
     
  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
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I. HORIZONTAL COMMITMENTS 
All Sectors included in this Schedule 
  
 
  
Minimum foreign investments:  
 
Subsidies:  
  
Acquisition of land:  (1), (2), (3) & (4) Commitments in this 
services schedule apply to all services except for those of non-
profit, public and publicly funded 
entities.  
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
(3)  Minimum foreign investment is 
YR50 million.  
(3) & (4) unbound with regards to 
subsidies, grants, tax incentives and tax credits.   
(3)  Non Yemenis are not allowed to 
purchase land and properties; however, they can lease land and 
properties for business purposes in 
specific sectors and sub-sector covered in this schedule.  
Temporary Entry and Stay of Natural 
Persons: 
 (4) Unbound, except for temporary 
entry and stay of natural persons in 
the categories listed below, and in all cases, total number of foreign 
staff, including higher management, 
of any establishment should not exceed 15% of the total staff.  
 
Business Visitors
 
 
 Persons not based in Yemen, who 
are engaged in activities related to representing a service supplier for 
the purpose of negotiating for the 
sale of services of that supplier where: 
 
a.  such sales are not directly made to 
the general public; and 
b.  the sales person is not engaged in 
supplying the service. 
 (4)  As in the market access column.  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
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Entry and stay for persons named in this 
category is limited up to ninety days.  
 
Persons responsible for setting up a 
commercial presence  
 
 Persons who are employees of an 
enterprise not having commercial 
presence in Yemen, whose stay 
temporarily in Yemen for the purpose of setting up a commercial 
presence of that enterprise in 
Yemen. Personnel engaged in setting up commercial presence 
shall present proof of the 
commencement of business operation within one year from the 
date of entry of that person. 
 
Intra-corporate transferees
 
  Managers, executives and 
specialists as defined below, who 
are employees of firms that provide services in Yemen through a branch  
or subsidiary established in Yemen 
and who have prior employment of their firm outside Yemen for a 
period of not less than three years 
prior to the date of application for entry and who fall with one of the 
following categories: 
 (a) Executives and Managers:  persons 
within an organization who 
primarily direct the organization or a department or sub-division of the 
organization, supervise or control 
the work of their supervisory, 
professional or managerial 
employees, have the authority to  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
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hire and fire or recommend hiring, 
firing or other personnel actions 
(such as promotion, or leave 
authorization) and exercise discretionary authority over day-to-
day operations. 
   
(b) Specialists: persons within an 
organization who possess technical 
knowledge at an advanced level of continued expertise and who possess 
proprietary knowledge of the 
organization’s services, research techniques or management 
techniques (Specialists may include 
but are not limited to members of licensed professions).  
   WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2
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Sector or Sub-sector Limitations of Market Access Li mitations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
II. SECTOR SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS 
Note: Sector specific section of this offer has to be read with and is subject to the above hori zontal section of the offer.  
I. BUSINESS SERVICES 
A. Professional Services 
(a)   Legal Services 
 International & Foreign Country 
Laws, only Advisory except Domestic Law.  (part of CPC 861) (1) None. 
(2)  None. 
(3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.   
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2)  None.  
(3) Appearance before courts is 
confined to Yemeni lawyers only.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(b)  Accounting, Auditing and 
Bookkeeping services  
(CPC 862)  (1)  Unbound.  
(2) Unbound.    
(3) None; except that access is 
restricted to foreign accounting companies licensed at their home 
country with more than ten years 
experience and only in general partnership
1 with Yemeni licensed 
Accountants with foreign 
participation ceiling of 49%.   
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  Unbound.  
(3)    None. 
  
 
  
 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.   
(d)  Architectural Services (CPC 8671) 
(e) Engineering services(CPC 8672) (f)  Integrated engineering services 
(CPC 8673) 
(g ) Urban planning and landscape 
architectural services 
(CPC 8674) (1) Unbound.  
(2)  Unbound.  (3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  Unbound.  (3) None.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section   
(h) Specialized  Medical Services 
(CPC 93122)  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3)  Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Grants to patients may only be used 
at certain state/public health 
institutions. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in    
horizontal section.  
                                                      
 1 General partnership is a firm in which all partners are jointly  and severally liable for the rights and obligations of the firm . A general partnership must be established 
and registered in accordance w ith the provisions of the companies’ law, an d other existing related laws and regulations. 
  
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B. Computer and Related Services 
(a) Consultation services related to the 
installation of computer hardware (CPC 841) 
(b) Software implementation services 
(CPC 842) 
(c) Data processing services (CPC 843) 
(d) Database services (CPC 844) 
(e) Maintenance and repair service of 
office machinery and equipment 
including computers (CPC 845) (1)  None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
 (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. 
(4)  Unbound, except as provided under 
horizontal section.  
F. Other Business Services  
(c) Management consulting service 
(CPC  865) 
(d) Services related to management 
consulting  (CPC  866) (1) None.  
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  
2.     COMMUNICATION SERVICES 
B. Courier Services (CPC 7512) (1) None.  
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.   
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C. Telecommunication Services 
 Commitments are taken consistent with "Notes for Scheduling Ba sic Telecom Services Commitments" (S/GBT/W/2/Rev.1) and Market A ccess Limitations on Spectrum 
Availability" (S/GBT/W/3).  
(b)  Packet-switched data transmission 
services  
(c) Circuit-switched data transmission 
services 
(d)  Telex services  
(e) Telegraph services  
(f)  Facsimile services  
(g)  Private leased circuits services  (h) Electronic mail 
(i)  Voice mail 
(j)  On-line information and data base 
retrival  
(k) Electronic data interchange ( EDI)  
(l)  Enhanced /value added facsimile 
services incl.store and forward, 
store and retrieve  
(m) Code & protocol conversion  (n) on-line information & data   
processing (1)  Unbound. 
(2)  None. 
(3)  None as of January 2015 with 
foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section. 
 (1)  None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  
Mobile Telecommunications Services 
 (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  None. (3)  None as of January 2010 with 
foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section. (1)  Unbound.  
(2) None. (3) None. 
 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  
5.  EDUCATIONAL SERVICES 
C. Higher Education Services  
(CPC 923) 
 
D. Adult Education Services  
(CPC 924) 
 (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  None. 
(3)  Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
  
 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  None. 
(3) Government scholarships and 
grants are only awarded to students in government educational 
institutions. 
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.   
  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
Page 8 Modes of supply    (1) Cross-Border supply   (2) Consumption abroad    (3) Commercial presence    (4) Presence of natural perso ns 
Sector or Sub-sector Limitations of Market Access Li mitations on National Treatment Additional Commitments 
6.     ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES  
A. Sewage services (CPC 94010) 
 B.  Refuse disposal services  
(CPC 94020)  
 C. Sanitation and similar services  
(CPC 9403)   
 
D. Other  
 - cleaning services for exhaust gases 
(CPC 9403)  
- Nature and landscape protection 
services (CPC 9406)  
- Noise abatement services  
(CPC 9405) (1)  None. 
(2)  None. (3)  Unbound, until laws & regulations 
are established. Thereafter, with 
foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
 (1)  None. 
(2)  None. (3)  None. 
 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. 
  
7.  FINANCIAL SERVICES 
General Conditions: 
All commitments are subject to entry requirements, domestic laws , rules and regulations and the terms and conditions of compete nt regulatory bodies/authorities in the 
respective financial services sector. Yemen shall not be prevented from taking non-discriminatory measures aiming at achieving stability and security objectives.  
A. Insurance and Insurance Related Services 
(i) Direct Insurance 
(a) Life  
(b) Non-Life  (1) Unbound.  
(2) Unbound.  
(3)  Starting five years after accession, 
commercial presence is allowed in the form of locally incorporated 
joint stock companies with a 
foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound.  
(2) Unbound.  
(3) None.  
  
 
 (4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.   
(c) Re-insurance and Retrocession  
 (1)  None.  
(2)  None.  (3)  None. 
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  (1) None.  
(2) None.  (3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.   
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(d)  Insurance intermediation  
(brokerage and Agency)  
 
 Services auxiliary to insurance 
(consultancy, actuarial, risk 
assessment and claims settlement 
services)  (1)  None. 
(2)  None. 
(3)  Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1)  None. 
(2)  None. 
(3)  None. 
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
B.  Banking and Other Financial Services 
The classification of the financial Services in this offer is ba sed on the classification of the financial services in the Anne x on Financial Services in the GATS.  
(v) Acceptance of deposits and other 
repayable funds from the public   
 
(vi) Lending of all types, including, 
inter-alia, consumer credit, 
mortgage credit, factoring and 
financing of commercial transactions   
 
(vii)  Financial leasing   
 
(viii) All payment and money 
transmission services  including 
credit, charge and debit cards, 
travellers cheques and bankers drafts;  
 
(ix) Guarantees and commitments   
(x) Trading for own account or for 
account of customers, whether on an exchange, in an over-the-counter 
market or otherwise, the following: 
  (A) money-market instruments 
(cheques, bills, certificates of 
deposits, etc.); 
 (B) foreign exchange; 
 (C) derivative products including, 
but not limited to, futures and 
options; (1)  Unbound.  
(2)  Unbound.  
(3) (i) Starting five years after accession, 
commercial presence is allowed in the form of:  
 
- Locally incorporated joint 
stock banks with a foreign 
equity ceiling of 51%. 
or   
- Branches of international 
banks licensed and supervised as banks in their home 
country.   
 
(ii) Individual shareholding in locally 
incorporated bank’s fund should not 
exceed 10% of the bank capital.  
  
(iii) Total foreign banks’ assets in 
Yemen should not exceed 20% of the total assts of operating banks in 
the country.   
 (iv) Branches are limited to two for each 
foreign bank in Yemen and are 
subject to allocation requirements.  
 
(v) Representative offices of foreign 
banks are not allowed to take 
deposits or undertake any kind of (1)  None.  
(2)  None.  
(3)  None.  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
   
  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
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 (D) exchange rate and interest rate 
instruments, other than swap; 
 (E) transferable securities; 
 (F) Other negotiable instruments 
and financial assets, including 
bullion. banking business. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section 
(xi) Participation in issues of all kinds 
of securities, including under-
writing and placement as agent 
(whether publicly or privately) and 
provision of service – related to such issues 
(xii) Money broking  
(xiii) Asset management, such as cash or 
portfolio management, all forms of 
collective investment management, 
custodial depository and trust services. (Pension Fund 
Management excluded)  
(xiv) Settlement and clearing services for 
financial assets, including 
securities, derivative products, and 
other negotiable instruments  
(xv)  Provision and transfer of financial 
information, and financial data 
processing and related software by providers of other financial services 
(xvi) Advisory, intermediation and other 
auxiliary financial services on all the 
activities listed in subparagraph (v) 
to (xv), including credit reference and analysis, investment and 
portfolio research and advice, advice 
on acquisitions and on corporate restructuring strategy  (1) None for items (xv) and (xvi), 
Unbound for other services. 
(2) None for items (xv) and (xvi), 
Unbound for other services. 
(3) Unbound until the Government 
determines what types of entities 
can conduct these services, the 
related laws and regulation are established, and such business is 
authorized by the government. 
Thereafter, foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   (1) None.  
(2) None.  
 
 
(3) None.   
 
  
 
  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.   
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8. HEALTH RELATED AND SOCIAL SERVICES 
A. Hospitals with more than 100 beds 
(part of CPC 93110)   (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. (3) None. 
(4)  Unbound, except as indicated in    
horizontal section.  
9.  TOURISM AND TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES 
A.  Hotels, only 4 and 5 star categories 
hotels (part of CPC 64110) 
restaurants (CPC 6421-6422)  (1) None.  
(2) None. 
(3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) None. 
(2) None. 
(3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  
B.  Travel agency and tour operator 
services (CPC 74710)  (1) Unbound.  
(2) None. 
(3) Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1) Unbound.  
(2) None. 
(3) None. 
(4) Unbound, except as indicated in 
horizontal section.  
10.  RECREATIONAL CULTURAL AND SPORTING SERVICES  
B.  News agency services (CPC 962)  
 (1)  None.  
(2)  None. 
(3)  Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  (4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1)  None.  
(2)  None. 
(3)  None. (4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
11. TRANSPORT SERVICES  
A. Maritime Transport Services  
a. Passenger transportation  
(CPC 7211)  
b.  Freight transportation  
(CPC 7212)  
c.  Rental of vessels with crew  
(CPC 7213)  (1)  None.  
(2)  None. 
(3)  Foreign equity ceiling of 51%.  (4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section. (1)  None.  
(2)  None. 
(3)  None. (4)  Unbound, except as indicated in the 
horizontal section.  
 
  
  WT/ACC/SPEC/YEM/2/Rev.2 
Page 12 List of Article II (MFN) Exemptions of Yemen  
 
Sector or sub-sector Description of measure indicating its 
inconsistency with Article II Countries to which the 
measure applies Intended 
duration Conditions creating the  
need for the exemption 
Land transport Facilitation of tr ansport and transit transport 
agreements. Existing and future bilateral or 
plurilateral agreements  Indefinite The need to promote tourism, exports 
and trade in transport services especially with neighbouring 
countries. 
Maritime transport Establishe s procedures, charges, and 
specific regulations for maritime transport applicable for ships of  countries concerned. Existing and future bilateral or 
plurilateral agreements Indefinite Facilitate navigation.  
 
 
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