The operation, coordinated by the Yemeni Foreign Ministry with support from Saudi authorities, saw four flights by Yemenia Airways transporting 609 tourists of various nationalities from Socotra to Saudi Arabia.
The final evacuation flight departed over the weekend, marking the end of an intense repatriation effort.
The tourists – including visitors from Australia, Europe, North America and Asia – had become stranded in early January after renewed clashes between rival factions on Yemen’s mainland led to the closure of airspace and suspension of flights to Socotra.
The island, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its alien-like landscapes and unique biodiversity, had long been a rare peaceful refuge amid Yemen’s decade-long civil war.
It lies about 380 kilometres south of mainland Yemen and closer to the Horn of Africa than the Middle East.
Some tourists had reportedly considered risky sea travel to neighbouring Oman, while embassies worked behind the scenes to arrange evacuation routes.
Yemen’s Information Minister described the evacuation as a humanitarian priority and thanked Saudi authorities for logistical assistance.
Many of the departing visitors expressed relief at finally leaving the island after days of uncertainty and disrupted travel plans.
