[4][better source needed] Yemen Times was founded in 1991 by Abdulaziz Al-Saqqaf, a leading economist and human rights activist, who was also its editor and publisher until he died in a traffic accident in 1999.

It supports press freedom, respect for human rights, political pluralism and democracy.

[5] In 2004, managing editor Iona Craig won the Martha Gellhorn Prize for her work with the paper.

[8] The paper also won the Free Media Pioneer Award by the International Press Institute in 2006.

These were Aden Chronicle by Mohammed Ali Luqmān and The Recorder by Muhmmad Bā-Sharāhīl.