A Briton was killed when his car blew up in the port city of Aden in Yemen, the Foreign Office has said.
The man died shortly after he drove away from his hotel, police officials said.
He is understood to have worked for the Aden-based Arab Company for Inspection and Marine Consulting.
The Ministry of Interior has now ordered a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this morning's blast.
A Foreign Office (FCO) spokesman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Aden, Yemen, in a car bomb. We are providing consular assistance to next of kin.
"The family have requested the media respect their privacy at this extremely difficult time. Our embassy in Sanaa has asked the Yemeni authorities to investigate the incident."
Police could not comment on any possible motive for the apparent attack.
Yemeni officials have blamed a rise in violence in Aden on al Qaida-linked militants.
