This paper will survey the current state of legal protection afforded to Yemen’s immense cultural patrimony, focusing on its tangible heritage, both moveable and immoveable. Analyzing national, sub-national, local, and individual efforts, the paper will argue that the current period is of critical importance to heritage protection in the country, for two primary reasons: to further encourage recent positive measures, and to prevent the neglect and criminality which presently threaten conservation. The paper will specifically spotlight a proposed law currently being debated in the Yemeni Parliament, which would grant legal protection to immoveable heritage, namely historic cities, and would strengthen in-country institutions to protect them. This bill, one of ten conditions Yemen must meet to retain the city of Zabid as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, may pass into law this year, potentially offering at least nominal legal protection to tangible heritage in the country other than artifacts. However, the debate over this law brings a number of local and national political issues to the fore. Among these are smuggling and black market trade in artifacts, the lack of economic investment in heritage infrastructure at national and municipal levels, and the poverty and lack of awareness and education which often stifle preservation efforts at individual and local levels. This paper will therefore also analyze Yemen’s efforts to address these problems through national and local legislation, and the degree of consistency and fairness with which such legislation is enforced. The particular threats to heritage conservation in the city of Zabid and their legal remedies will receive special consideration, given its critical situation and possible de-listing as a World Heritage Site. In addition to cities and artifacts, Yemen’s cultural capital includes those individuals most experienced in heritage conservation and restoration. Yet these and other leaders are often marginalized from the debate over how best to protect and develop the country’s heritage resources. Research for the paper will also include a series of interviews with these individuals—mayors, politicians, architects, archeologists, and professors—asking whether they believe current Yemeni law suffices to address these pressing issues, and if not, what suggestions they have for improvements to legislation and enforcement.