[1] In September 2006, AQY vowed to carry out more attacks against Western interests after a double suicide car bombing on two oil facilities failed.

[2][3] Yemeni authorities said they received information four days before to the bombing warning of a potential AQY attack against local oil facilities, government institutions and foreign embassies, but not against tourist sites.

[4][5] An AQY message in an e-magazine posted on an Islamist website on 12 January demanded the release of some of its members imprisoned in Yemen and threatened to take unspecified actions if not.

[5][6] Planning and organizing of the attack was undertaken by an 11-man cell headed by Hamza al-Qaiti, Qasim al-Raymi and Nasir al-Wuhayshi, the latter being named the leader of AQY the previous month.

[8] At around midmorning on 2 July, a four-vehicle convoy consisting of thirteen Spanish tourists in two cars accompanied by Yemeni security vehicles at the front and back was making its way from Sanaa to Marib to view the Queen of Sheba temple.

[5] On 4 July, Yemeni forces killed Ahmed Bassiouni Dewidar, an Egyptian national who reportedly masterminded the attack, in a gun battle in Sanaa which wounded five security officers.

[36] As a part of an investigative series produced by Al-Jazeera in June 2015, Hani Muhammad Mujahid, a former AQY informant for the Yemeni government, provided an account for the bombing.

[37] Mujahid said that he informed the National Security Bureau of the attack a week before it took place, but had later arrived at the scene on the day of the bombing and found the preparations ready.