Sabafon

What Sabafon does

Sabafon (Yemen Mobile Company Sabafon) is a privately held Yemeni mobile telecommunications operator founded in 2001, headquartered in Sana'a, Yemen. The company operates a nationwide mobile network supporting 2G voice/SMS and 4G LTE (branded "Fouaji") services, serving individual prepaid and postpaid subscribers as well as corporate accounts across Yemen. Its core technology stack consists of GSM/UMTS/LTE mobile network infrastructure, a USSD-based service activation layer, e-voucher digital recharge systems, and the Ana SabaFon self-service mobile application available on iOS and Android.

The company monetizes through a multi-stream revenue model: usage-based prepaid airtime and data sales distributed via scratch cards, e-vouchers (12 denomination tiers from 22.5 to 1,270 units), and POS/kiosk terminals; recurring postpaid monthly subscription fees across tiered packages (Yabalash, Saba, Hybrid); 4G LTE data packages; international roaming revenue across GCC, Arab, European, and other zones via partnerships with global carriers including Vodafone; transaction fees from SabaCash mobile financial services (operated in partnership with CAC Islamic Bank under Yemeni Law No. 40 of 2006 and Central Bank Circular No. 11 of 2014); and value-added services including Rannaty ringtones, Hadiyati package gifting, Sallefni emergency credit, voicemail, and SabaControl call blocking.

Distribution combines 21 owned service centers across major Yemeni governorates, 9 self-service ATM kiosks, authorized POS franchise agents, shop-in-shop retail activations, and direct corporate sales for enterprise clients including corporations, organizations, and embassies. Reported core staff headcount is 116, reflecting a lean operating posture relative to a nationwide telco footprint; the company does not disclose revenue, ownership structure, or financial performance.

Name

Sabafon

Legal name

Yemen Mobile Company Sabafon

Website

https://sabafon.com.ye

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sabafon is Yemen's first private mobile telecom operator (founded 2001), offering 2G/4G LTE voice, SMS, data, international roaming, and SabaCash mobile money services to individual and corporate subscribers across Yemen via owned service centers, POS networks, and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sana'a

HQ country

Yemen

HQ region

Middle East

Offices21 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Prepaid Airtime and Data: Prepaid subscribers purchase airtime credit and data packages including Yabalash, SuperNet, and social media bundles. Revenue generated through scratch cards, e-vouchers, and kiosk recharges with various denomination options.
2. Postpaid Monthly Subscriptions: Postpaid subscribers pay monthly fees for bundled minutes, SMS, and data packages including Yabalash, Saba Packages, and Hybrid plans. Billing based on fixed monthly fees plus usage beyond package allowances.
3. 4G LTE Data Services: High-speed data packages under Anter, Hybrid, Safari, and Yabalash 4G brands offering various data volumes and validity periods for both prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
4. International Roaming: Roaming services for subscribers traveling abroad with unified pricing across zones (GCC, Arab Countries, Europe, Rest of World, Satellite). Revenue from call, SMS, and data usage while roaming.
5. Collect Call Service: Collect call service allowing prepaid subscribers to make calls charged to the recipient. Service available within SabaFon network with white/blacklist features.
6. Hadiyati Package Gifting: Service allowing subscribers to gift packages (4G, social media, Yabalash) to other numbers. Revenue from package purchases made as gifts.
7. SabaCash Financial Services: Mobile wallet services in partnership with CAC Islamic Bank enabling money transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, government payments, and wallet-to-bank transfers. Revenue through transaction fees.
8. Value-Added Services: VAS including Rannaty ringtone service, Hadiyati gifting, SabaControl call blocking, voice mail, voice SMS, and messaging services. Revenue from subscription fees and per-use charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sabafon operates Yemen's first mobile telecommunications network, providing 2G voice and SMS services and 4G LTE high-speed mobile data to prepaid and postpaid subscribers. The company delivers value-added services (call management, voicemail, ringback tones, package gifting, emergency credit, international roaming) and runs the SabaCash mobile wallet service in partnership with CAC Islamic Bank, enabling money transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, and ATM withdrawals. Dedicated corporate sales and SMS broadcast capabilities serve business, organizational, and embassy accounts.

Product overview

Sabafon is a Yemeni mobile telecommunications operator offering a comprehensive portfolio of mobile services. The core offerings include 2G voice/SMS and 4G LTE internet services through various prepaid and postpaid lines. The company provides extensive value-added services including call management (voicemail, call forwarding, conference calls), mobile financial services via SabaCash (electronic money, transfers, bill payments in partnership with CAC Islamic Bank), and the Ana SabaFon subscriber mobile application. Additional services span ringtone customization (Rannaty), package gifting (Hadiyati), emergency credit (Sallefni), and international roaming options. Enterprise solutions include corporate groups with preferential internal tariffs and SMS broadcast services for bulk communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SabaCash: Electronic money and mobile financial services provided by SabaFon in partnership with CAC Islamic Bank, enabling money transfers, bill payments, and mobile wallet services.
• Ana Sabafon

Products and services

• 4G LTE Mobile Data Service (Fouaji) Fourth-generation mobile broadband service offering high-speed internet to subscribers across Yemen through branded data packages including Anter, Hybrid, Yabalash 4G, Safari, and Marhaba 4G.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saba 1500 Package enables calls/SMS within network at 1 YER per unit and internet at 1 YER per MB
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CAC Islamic BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership for SabaCash electronic money service operating under Law No. 40 of 2006 related to electronic payment and financial systems. CAC Islamic Bank provides Islamic banking framework for mobile financial services including money transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, and wallet-to-bank transfers. Regulated by Central Bank of Yemen Circular No. 11 of 2014.
• VodafonecoreTechnology or IntegrationInternational roaming partnership enabling SabaFon subscribers to use Vodafone networks while roaming in Egypt, Turkey, South Africa, UK, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Albania, Greece, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, and Romania. Data roaming priced at 100 YER per MB under special campaign.
• International Roaming PartnerscoreTechnology or IntegrationExtensive network of international roaming service providers across GCC countries, Arab countries, Europe, Turkey, US & Canada, Rest of World, and Satellite networks. Enables SabaFon subscribers to make/receive calls, send SMS, and access data while traveling globally with unified roaming pricing zones.

Scale indicators4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ooredoo: Ooredoo is a Qatar-based telecom group operating mobile networks across MENA and Southeast Asia. Comparable as a regional broad incumbent with similar prepaid/postpaid and digital service models targeting emerging-market consumers.
• Vodafone: Vodafone is Sabafon's international roaming partner across 17 countries and is also a global mobile network operator with extensive MNO operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent partner/competitor shaping Sabafon's roaming economics and technology standards.
• Orange: Orange operates mobile networks across MENA (notably Jordan, Egypt) with comparable prepaid, mobile money (Orange Money), and value-added service portfolios. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping financial inclusion and emerging-market strategy.
• MTN Group: MTN Group is a pan-African and Middle Eastern telecom incumbent with a strategic stake in Yemen Mobile, Sabafon's primary competitor. MTN provides capital, technology, and roaming scale that indirectly shape Sabafon's competitive dynamics in Yemen.
• Zain Group: Zain is a Kuwait-based mobile operator with operations across MENA serving similar mass-market prepaid segments and diaspora customers. Comparable as a regional broad incumbent with overlapping customer base dynamics.
• e& (Etisalat): e& is the UAE-based telecom group operating across MENA, Africa, and Asia with mobile, fintech, and digital services. Comparable as a broad incumbent with overlapping mobile money, prepaid/postpaid, and regional roaming portfolios.

Others

• CAC Islamic Bank: CAC Islamic Bank is Sabafon's strategic partner for the SabaCash mobile money service. Comparable as an ecosystem partner that anchors Sabafon's mobile financial services revenue stream under Yemen's electronic payment regulations.

Regional players

• Saudi Telecom Company (stc): stc is the dominant Saudi Arabian mobile operator and a regional MENA telecom leader. Comparable as a regional MNO serving the Gulf diaspora corridor with overlapping roaming relationships and similar prepaid/postpaid model.

Emerging players

• Africell: Africell is a mobile operator focused on underserved African markets with aggressive 4G rollouts and mobile money services. Comparable as an emerging player with similar emerging-market mobile-first, data-led growth playbook targeting price-sensitive segments.

Direct peers

• Yemen Mobile: Yemen Mobile is the principal direct competitor to Sabafon in the Yemeni mobile market, offering nationwide GSM/4G services with backing from MTN Group. Both operators compete head-to-head for the same Yemeni consumer and enterprise segments across prepaid, postpaid, and data services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SabaCash
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSOG8hXyqxn649htrKTpIVA
• Facebookfacebook.com/SabaCashYE
• Instagraminstagram.com/sabacashym/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sabafonyem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sabafon