Background: Low birth weight (LBW) describes neonates weighing less than 2500 g at birth and is a common obstetric presentation. Therefore, this study determined the risk factors associated with LBW in Sana'a city, Yemen, with a focus on khat chewing during pregnancy. Methods: This case-control study recruited 35 mothers with LBW neonates as cases and 105 mothers with normal birthweight neonates as controls. Data about sociodemographic characteristics, maternal habits, and obstetric characteristics were collected using a pre-designed questionnaire. The association between independent variables and LBW was tested at P-value <0.05. Results: Consanguinity (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6-8.8; P = 0.005), smoking (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.0-6.6; P = 0.038), history of LBW (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.0-12.8; P <0.001) and family history of LBW (OR = 3.7, 95% CI: 1.6-8.8; P = 0.004) were significantly associated with LBW. However, LBW was not associated with sociodemographic characteristics, khat chewing, or other obstetric characteristics. Conclusions: Consanguinity and smoking are predictors of LBW neonates in Sana'a city. However, khat chewing is not associated with LBW. On the other hand, no significant association exists between LBW and the obstetric characteristics of parity, birth spacing, antenatal care, or frequency of antenatal visits. Yet, a history of maternal LBW and a family history of LBW is associated with LBW. Further large-scale studies are recommended to explo re the risk factors associated with LBW at the community level.