Sa'ada Governorate

Sa'ada City Remand Prison

Yemen

Status

In use

2025

Type: Prison or pretrial detention centre (Criminal)

Custodial Authority: Not Available

Management: Not Available

Detains: Criminal detainees (convicted or remand), Undocumented migrants (administrative)

Reported population Capacity Deaths at facility
115

28 April 2025

No Data
No Data
Yemen

6,000

Migration Detainees

44

Deaths in Detention

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ABOUT

The Sa'ada City Remand Prison is located on the outskirts of Sa'ada city within a large walled compound covering approximately 51.5 acres. In 2022, UN representatives visited the compound and reported that although it had once operated as military barracks, it was no longer serving any military function. Reports indicate that Houthis have used the prison to detain migrants, as well as pre-trial detainees. The centre has twice been struck by airstrikes, resulting in large numbers of deaths. In January 2022, a Saudi airstrike struck the facility killing more than 90 detainees. In April 2025, it was struck again–this time by a US missile, part of the Trump administration's wider "Operation Rough Rider." According to initial reports (from Houthi-run al-Masirah media), more than 68 migrants were killed in the strike.

NEWS & TESTIMONY
2025

"Satellite imagery taken after the strike in the southwest outskirts of the city of Saada shows two large buildings destroyed inside a walled compound occupying about 50 acres, known as Saada City Remand Prison. Both bui [...]

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FACILITY NAMES
Sa'ada City Remand Prison

Alternative Names: Sa'ada Central Prison

Location

Country: Yemen

City & Region: Sa'ada Governorate, Middle East

Latitude, Longitude: 16.930440, 43.733510

MANAGEMENT & BUDGET

Center Status
Status
Year
In use
2025
Facility type
Category
Type
Year
Criminal
Prison or pretrial detention centre
2025

DETAINEES

Categories of detainees

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2025

Criminal detainees (convicted or remand)

2022

Undocumented migrants (administrative)

2022

SIZE & POPULATION

Reported Single-Day Migration Detainee Population at Facility (day)
Number
Date
115
28 April 2025

LENGTH OF DETENTION

OUTCOMES

CONDITIONS

CARCERAL INDICATORS

STAFF

SEGREGATION

CELLS

COMMUNAL SPACE & ACTIVITIES

HEALTH

MONITORING & ACCESS

Monitors & Civil Society Access
Access?
Type of Institution
Obsv. Date
Yes
International Committee of the Red Cross
2025

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

NEWS & TESTIMONY

2025

"Satellite imagery taken after the strike in the southwest outskirts of the city of Saada shows two large buildings destroyed inside a walled compound occupying about 50 acres, known as Saada City Remand Prison. Both buildings are similar in design and about 120 feet long and just over 500 feet apart, separated by a road. Other buildings in the same compound were struck in January 2022 by Saudi forces, killing at least 91 detainees and wounding at least 236, according to the U.N. human rights office. At the time, the compound held 1,300 pretrial detainees and 700 migrants, the U.N. said. It was one of the deadliest strikes of a years-long Saudi-led campaign against the Houthis, which received substantial U.S. assistance."