Much has been said about the tribes, their role in Yemeni politics and relationship with the state. The mainstream assumption is that tribes are resistant to democracy and government control and that they are one of the main reasons that prevented establishing rule of law in the country. Yet in 2011, youth and other citizens in tribal areas protested and established sit-ins to support the revolution. Young tribesmen have also joined hands with other youth in Change Square in Sanaa. In addition, tribes stepped in and established order in areas where the withdrawal of government forces caused instability and increasing crime, particularly on highways that link governorates. But as the political situation hit an impasse, and conflict pockets erupted in different parts of the country, various tribes participated in these conflicts putting into question their potential to engage in a peaceful transition. This paper will examine the role of tribes in Yemen’s transition process. It will look at their attitudes and engagement in the national dialogue process and beyond. More importantly it will discuss how tribal dynamics interplay with political processes and the ongoing conflict between political actors.