Central Bank in Aden suspends al-Buraq exchange company and seals its premises
Published · Updated
What happened
The Central Bank of Yemen in Aden said on 2026-09-17 that it suspended al-Buraq exchange company and closed its premises. The action raised the number of exchange businesses shut under the campaign launched in mid-2025 to 107.
Why it matters
The move shows that the Central Bank in Aden is still using licensing and closure powers against exchange firms rather than pausing the campaign. In Yemen's divided financial system, each additional closure can alter where households, traders, and importers obtain cash and settle payments.
On 2026-09-17, the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden suspended the al-Buraq exchange company and closed its offices as part of its continuing campaign against exchange businesses. The bank's move brings the total number of exchange firms shut since the campaign began in mid-2025 to 107. The immediate question is whether Governor Ahmed al-Maabqi's enforcement drive can improve foreign-exchange compliance and payments discipline, or whether it pushes more transactions into informal channels in a fragmented market.
Watch for
Central Bank of Yemen in Aden publication by 2026-09-20 of a new circular naming additional suspended exchange companies or setting compliance conditions for reopening Yemen Banks Association or the Central Bank in Aden confirmation by 2026-09-20 of changes to licensed money-transfer and cash-withdrawal procedures in Aden Aden-based exchange rate boards on 2026-09-18 to 2026-09-20 showing a marked gap between CBY reference rates and parallel-market rial trading Aden Chamber of Commerce or major importers by 2026-09-20 reporting delayed settlement or cash-delivery bottlenecks tied to exchange-company closures
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