Yemen

Quick Facts

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Capital

Sana'a

Population

19,350,000

Government

Republic

Religions

Islam (Sunni, Shi'a)

Languages

Arabic

Calling Code

+967

Nationality

Yemeni

Local name

Al Yaman

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Introduction

New friends

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Shoved down south beneath Saudi Arabia, where it is only a stone's throw away from the African continent, Yemen is a unique Middle Eastern destination with an architectural style unlike any other. Buildings of up to five stories tall, made of mud, brick or stone are a strange sight, but this is where Yemenis live, along with their animals. In Shibam, a town along the Wadi Hadhramawt (a seasonal river), the 500-odd collection of traditional skyscrapers has an astoundingly American look, despite being several centuries old. Yemen's capital, San'a, is supposed to have been established by Shem, Noah's son. Maybe so. In any case, it is a charming, ancient city with busy marketplaces and pretty mosques.

Yemen bewitches every visitor who ventures there, a veritable treasure chest of old Arabian culture and history, fascinating countryside and hospitable people.

Unfortunately, travel to Yemen is at this time not particularly safe, so travellers should stay well aware of the political situation.

Brief History

Yemen is a land laden with history. For centuries, heavily laden caravans journeyed from easternmost parts of Yemen to the Mediterranean, carrying the treasured cargo of frankincense. Perhaps the most famous convoy ever to come from Yemen was the Queen of Sheba's, when she visited King Solomon of Israel - though Ethiopians insist that the land of Sheba was located in Ethiopia.

Throughout the generations, the people of Yemen have converted steep slopes in the western highlands into cultivable land with geometric clarity. This rugged region of Yemen was naturally well fortified against attack.

Geography

Yemen is divided into four geographic regions. The Tihama is the coastal plain that stretches along the coast. The Tihama opens onto the western highlands, a region that is remarkably reminiscent of Africa. This area receives the highest rainfall in Arabia and is heavily cultivated with bananas, papayas and lemons. Further east, the central highlands are a 2000 metre high plateau, where the country's capital Sana'a is located. Finally, the sandy desert of the Rub al Khali, the "Empty Quarter" intrudes into the south of the Arabian peninsula. Yemen shares international borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Regions

• The Yemeni Coastal Plains are a flat, dry territory along the Arabian and Red Seas.
• The Yemeni Mountains rise steeply from the coastal plain.
• The Yemeni Highlands descend slowly from the mountains toward the desert
• The Empty Quarter is a desertous region inhabited by nomads
• The Red Sea Islands consist of over 100 small islands in the Red Sea
• Socotra is an island in the Arabian Sea

Cities

• Sana'a - In the heart of old town of Sana'a one can easily believe that time has stood still for centuries. Multi storied houses built from burnt clay tiles with alabaster windows and white chalked façades still adorn the old city. The tiny shops in the narrow winding streets of the souk are particularly worth checking out, as you can purchase beautiful jewellery unique aromatic spices.
• Taizz - A city in the south of Yemen, dominated by majestic mosques.
• Hodeidah - Yemen's fourth largest city and a good starting point for excursions around Tihama.
• Aden - A port city on the southcoast of Yemen.
• Ibb
• Sa'dah
• Shibam in the region of Hadramawt
• Mukalla
• Hudaydah

Sights and Activities

Historic town of Zabid

Zabid is one of Yemen's oldest towns, boasting a university that is as old as the eight century. Zabid's domestic and military architecture and its urban plan make it an outstanding archaeological and historical site. Besides being the capital of Yemen from the 13th to the 15th century, the city played an important role in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university and therefore is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List.

Diving

Directly north of Hodeidah behind the Ras Isa peninsula are many small islands basking in turquoise coloured water, a paradise for divers.

Shibam

Shibam dates back to the 16th century and is called 'the Manhattan of the desert' and not without reason. The towns has some fine and impressive high rise buildings which tower above other buildings in the city. Shibam is surrounded by a fortified wall and is one of the best examples of historic urban planning in Yemen. Therefore it is placed on the Unesco World Heritage List as well.

Sana'a

Rock Palace

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The old city of Sana'a is located in the north of the country at an altitude of 2,200 m and has inhabited for more than 2,500 years. In the 7th and 8th centuries the city became a major centre for the propagation of Islam. There are many ancient buildings that witness this period, among which are 103 mosques and many hammams (bading and washing places) and thousand of houses built before the 11th century. It is on the Unesco list as well and for further reading, check the Sana'a article.

Other sights and activities

• Mocha - an old port town best known for its popular strand of coffee, located on the Red Sea in Tihama.
• Marib - East of Sana'a lies the legendary town of Marib where the pillars of the ancient temple still stand to remind one of bygone glory.
• Socotra - an island southeast of the mainland with its own natural and cultural significance.

Events and Festivals

Weather

Getting There

By Plane

Yemenia is the national airline of Yemen and is based at Sana'a International Airport (SAH). It operates surprisingly many flights and although they are mainly in the Middle East and a few destinations further in Asia like Kuala Lumpur, there are flights to and from Paris, London, Rome and Frankfurt as well. Johannesburg is another destinations of the airline. Other airlines serving Sana'a are mostly airlines of neighbouring countries, although Lufthansa flies to Frankfurt.
From Aden International Airport (ADE) Yemenia flies to countries in the region and to Rome. Few other airlines fly from here.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

You can enter Yemen by bus from the Dhofar region in the southwest of Oman. Buses leaves Salalah on a regular basis to the border.

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

Yemenia has several domestic services, including Sana'a, Aden, Taiz and the island of Socotra.

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Red Tape

Money

Work

Study

Language

Arabic is the national language, with 5 different dialects spoken depending on the region. Other languages spoken in Yemen include Mehri with 70,643 speakers (2000 census), Soqotri with an estimated 43,000 speakers in the Socotra archipelago (2004 census) and Bathari (with an estimated total of only 200 speakers, including Oman).

From grade 7 onwards, foreign languages are taught in public schools although the quality in public schools is low. The private schools that use a British or American system teach English and produce proficient speakers, but Arabic is the dominant language of communication. Some private schools have also started teaching French. You will find less English speakers in Yemen than in nearby Arab countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

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