Universal Travel & Trading Ltd. began operation in 1983 in a small office in Sana’a. The company was founded by Mr. Alwan S. Al Shaibani and Mr. Omar M. Omar, two veteran airline executives who had previously worked for the country’s national carriers. Today, the Universal Group employs over 600 employees and has grown to include nine distinct companies:

Universal Travel & Trading Ltd.
Universal Travel & Tourism
Universal Touring Company
Universal Hotel Co. Ltd.

Universal Resorts Company Ltd.

Universal Foreign Exchange Co.

Universal Rent-a-Car

Arabia Felix  Voyages (Dubai).

Yemen Club for Touring and Automobile
Tourism Investment Company
Ramco Engineering Company
Shahran Hotel Company

In addition, the Universal Group has a 50% stake or more in DHL Yemen Ltd., Al Mahweet Hotel Company, and our franchise operations include Hertz International, Carlson Wagonlit, Destinations of the World (DOTW), and Gullivers Travel.

We are also the General Sales Agents for 10 airlines: Air Tanzania, American Airlines, British Airways, CSA, Dallo Airlines, Jet Airways, Oman Air, Red Sea Air (Eritria), Royal Jordanian, and Thai Airways International.

Universal hotels include Al Hawta Palace in Seiyun, Bilquis Ma’arib Hotel in Ma’arib, Shahran Hotel and Bir Al Azab in Sana’a, which is expected to open in 2007.

Our main travel offices are located in Zubairi, Hadda Streets and 60 Meters Road in Sana’a. Our branch offices are located in Taiz, Ibb, Hodeidah, Aden, Seiyun, Al Mukalla, Rada’a, Al Dhala’a, and Yafa’a, with additional offices dedicated to Haj and Omra services and Land Transport, in Sana’a, Taiz, Hodeidah, Aden, Harad and Al Wadea’a. Our Cargo department is located in our head office on 60 Meters Road.

Information Technology

With the growing size of the company and the increasing diversity and complexity of its services the Group made an early strategic decision and invested to computerize key business processes. The first achievement was the computerization of Universal Touring Co. with tailor-made multi-user software, tracking all the areas of the business including accounting, reservations, sales planning, website and e-mail. Other ambitious programs have followed to enhance general performance and efficiency. These additional programs include the rent-a-car and hotels sale systems, a renewed financial accounting system, and a payroll system.