he Yemeni and Arab American community in Dearborn recognized the increasing need for services in their growing population and set out to establish an organization that would address these needs. Despite the idea for the organization having been conceived in the 1970s, the founders took action in 1993 when they saw the lack of support and representation for Yemeni American families.

The Yemeni American Association was thus founded as a non-profit in January 1993, with the goal of not only providing essential social services but also empowering and defending the community. The organization's current executive director, Mohamed Saeed Abdulla, believed that the YAA should break down barriers, build bridges, and demonstrate to its members that success was achievable.

In 1997, the YAA established its Annual Scholarship Awards Program, which recognizes academically successful high school seniors in the Yemeni-American community and provides them with monetary scholarships. The program has since expanded and now awards scholarships to 21 recipients.

The Yemeni American Association serves as a bridge between the Arab community and the Dearborn community, promoting understanding of Yemeni and Arab culture, serving as a liaison between schools and the community, supporting government institutions, and providing a variety of cultural and social services.