Yemen's horseback takeaway: firm finds equestrian fuel shortages workaround

A takeaway service in Yemen is delivering food on horseback amid severe fuel shortages that are pushing parts of the war-torn country to a pre-industrial state.

The streets of Sanaa echo with the clippety-clop of horses' hoofs as the Tawseel delivery company transports food throughout the city without using petrol-guzzling motorbikes.

The company's riders, dressed in red company uniforms and wearing catering bags, began roaming the city on horseback last week.

In addition to the fuel crisis, we face another challenge which is the internet outage, because most of the requests we receive are through apps

Tawseel owner AbdulHamid Thaiyban

The sight provoked a strong public reaction, with pictures of the horsemen going viral and some people referring to the riders as knights.

Some were amazed at such a resourceful idea in a time of war, while others expressed sadness that businesses have been pushed to such desperate measures, while motorcycles stand idle.

“So Tawseel, a food delivery service, started delivering food using horses due to the fuel crisis in Sanaa, well! I have mixed feelings, this looks creative (resilience) but the truth is people are pushed to the limit! Aggressively pushed,” Hana Al Shawafi, a Yemeni development company employee, wrote on Twitter.

Yemen's fuel crisis

AbdulHamid Thaiyban, the owner of the service, told The National that his company started using horses because of the severe fuel crisis that has hit Sanaa in recent months.

“The majority of the motorcyclists working with us decided to stop working due to the chronic fuel crisis the city has been living with, while others stopped as their bikes broke down because of the adulterated fuel they usually buy on the black market,” Mr Thaiyban said.

“It is really painful. We found ourselves unable to carry on during such hardship, so we resorted to using horses to convey a message to the world that we are suffering as a new start-up.”

Animals are the forgotten victims of crisis in war-torn Yemen

Fuel shortages have been a fact of life in Sanaa for at least four years, but the situation has reached crisis point. Bakers who usually relied on gas or diesel have switched to using wood.

“Last week we hired a dozen horses as a first experiment,” Mr Thaiyban said. Things went well and his clients were happy with the service.

“We will consider hiring more horses in case the fuel crisis continues,” he said.

Tawseel Company for Food Delivery was established in Sanaa in March 2020 as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic, when many vulnerable people were unable to leave their homes. The company provides its service through a team composed of 30 riders, called “captains”, who in normal circumstances deliver food by motorcycle.

“We work with restaurants and cafes to deliver food to clients in their homes and in their workplaces and get commissions for our work,” Mr Thaiyban said.

“Our main transportation tool was motorcycles but as the fuel crisis tightened in Sanaa, we resorted to using horse.”

Twenty litres of petrol costs 35,000 Yemeni riyals, about $60 at the street rate in Sanaa, where a dollar was worth 600 riyals at the weekend.

“In addition to the fuel crisis, we face another challenge which is the internet outage, because most of the requests we receive are through apps,” Mr Thaiyban said.

The majority of the company's clients praise the idea of using horses to continue the delivery service.

“It proves that the company is keen to provide the service to its clients in such critical circumstances at any cost,” Ahmed Najeeb, a client from Sanaa, told The National.

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

Fresh faces in UAE side

Khalifa Mubarak (24) An accomplished centre-back, the Al Nasr defender’s progress has been hampered in the past by injury. With not many options in central defence, he would bolster what can be a problem area.

Ali Salmeen (22) Has been superb at the heart of Al Wasl’s midfield these past two seasons, with the Dubai club flourishing under manager Rodolfo Arrubarrena. Would add workrate and composure to the centre of the park.

Mohammed Jamal (23) Enjoyed a stellar 2016/17 Arabian Gulf League campaign, proving integral to Al Jazira as the capital club sealed the championship for only a second time. A tenacious and disciplined central midfielder.

Khalfan Mubarak (22) One of the most exciting players in the UAE, the Al Jazira playmaker has been likened in style to Omar Abdulrahman. Has minimal international experience already, but there should be much more to come.

Jassim Yaqoub (20) Another incredibly exciting prospect, the Al Nasr winger is becoming a regular contributor at club level. Pacey, direct and with an eye for goal, he would provide the team’s attack an extra dimension.

General%20Classification

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