Yemen’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Nayef Al-Bakri, met today in Aden with Eng. Ahmed Al-Madkhali, Director of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, to discuss the rehabilitation of 22 May Stadium, which sustained significant damage during attacks carried out by the Houthi militia on the city.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Minister for Projects Mohsen Baybek and Deputy Minister for Financial and Administrative Affairs Ayman Al-Makhlafi. The parties agreed to include the stadium rehabilitation project in the 2026 development plan, while also supporting capacity-building programs in football, basketball, and sports medicine across several governorates, including Hadramout.

Minister Al-Bakri stressed the importance of restoring 22 May Stadium as one of Yemen’s most significant sports facilities, noting that its athletics track enhances Yemen’s ability to host regional and Arab sports events in the future.

He praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its continued support to Yemen’s youth and sports sector, emphasizing the role of Saudi development efforts in reviving sports activity in liberated areas.

For his part, Eng. Al-Madkhali confirmed that the rehabilitation of 22 May Stadium is a priority within the program’s future plans, stressing readiness to overcome any obstacles to begin implementation.