Welcome to Yemen,The Land of the Queen of Sheba

Yemen is Arabia's Undiscovered gem. It is a country where you can find the world's oldest skyscrapers, spectacular mountaintop villages, pristine coral reefs, and stunningly gorgeous trees unseen anywhere else on earth , and Yemen is one of the world's most intriguing countries, rich in ancient history, unique architecture and breath-taking scenery , And  discovered with us the hidden beauty of Yemen .

 

GeographyYemen

Geography

Yemen

Location:	Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinates:	15 00 N, 48 00 E
Map references:	Middle East
Area:	total: 527,970 sq km land: 527,970 sq km water: 0 sq km note: includes Perim, Socotra, the former Yemen Arab Republic (YAR or North Yemen), and the former People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY or South Yemen)
Area - comparative:	slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming
Land boundaries:	total: 1,746 km border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km
Coastline:	1,906 km
Maritime claims:	territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:	mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east
Terrain:	narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula
Elevation extremes:	lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m
Natural resources:	petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land use:	arable land: 2.78% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 96.98% (2001)
Irrigated land:	4,900 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:	sandstorms and dust storms in summer
Environment - current issues:	very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Environment - international agreements:	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:	strategic location on Bab el Mandeb, the strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, one of world's most active shipping lanes

People

Yemen

Population:	20,727,063 (July 2005 est.)
Ethnic groups:	predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans
Religions:	Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu
Languages:	Arabic
Literacy:	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 50.2% male: 70.5% female: 30% (2003 est.)

Government

Yemen

Country name:	conventional long form: Republic of Yemen conventional short form: Yemen local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah local short form: Al Yaman former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]
Government type:	republic
Capital:	Sanaa
Administrative divisions:	19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz note: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city of Sanaa is treated as an additional governorate
Independence:	22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had become independent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)
National holiday:	Unification Day, 22 May (1990)
Constitution:	16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001
Legal system:	based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:	18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:	chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994) head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL (since 4 April 2001) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a seven-year term (recently extended from a five-year term by constitutional amendment); election last held 23 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 96.3%, Najib Qahtan AL-SHAABI 3.7%
Flag description:	three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Economy

Yemen

Economy - overview:	Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has reported strong growth since 2000, but its economic fortunes depend mostly on oil. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring. Yemen has worked to maintain tight control over spending and to implement additional components of the IMF program, but a high population growth rate and internal political dissension complicate the government's task. Plans include a diversification of the economy, encouragement of tourism, and more efficient use of scarce water resources.
GDP (purchasing power parity):	$16.25 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:	1.9% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:	purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:	agriculture: 15.5% industry: 44.7% services: 39.7% (2004 est.)
Labor force:	5.98 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:	most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force
Unemployment rate:	35% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:	45.2% (2003)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:	lowest 10%: 3% highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:	33.4 (1998)
Currency (code):	Yemeni rial (YER)
Currency code:	YER

Lady bint ahmed mosque in zi jabalah

• The city of jabalah is one of most beautiful citries that was founded by the salahites situated 2000 meters above sea level , it has a graded shape and is characterized by its mild weather , fertile soil and beautiful buildings. It was known in the past as the city , and to quote abdullah bin ya,ala :
• No egypt ,no tabriz no their capital city   flanked by two rivers it is not compared to the levant ; or the love of orient but the love of yemen .
• The salahites took jabalah as their capital city since 1066 a.d. The lady bint ahmed mosque is considered a prime example of the magnificent  salahite architecture of yemen , much like the religious buildings of the fatimids are to egypt.
• The mosque was  built on the old  building known as dar al ezz (the first) whose remains are still there at the bottom of the present mosque . It is entered through a stone staircase leading  to a long vestibule that extends from the south to the north , and overlooks the mosque's  frontage from the east .
• The mosque has an open nave in the middle (20*17.8meters) and is surrounded by porticos from all directions from all directions the porticoes  overlook the nave with  pointed  knots of  different shapes that rest on cylindrical stone columns whith squares  bases . The prayer place is also rectangular shaped (31.60*16.20meters) , and covered whith wooden boxes decorated with a group  of accurately  done engravings . When lady bint ahmed passed   away in 1137 a.d., she was buried in the  northwest corner of the prayer place . Hertomb occupied a space of 3.50*3.70 meters , and her wooden coffin was enclosed by a fence with various gypsum inscriptions that reflect the techniques of this islamic art of yemen under the salahites  . In the middle of the kiblah wall , there is a hollow mihrab with decorations and inscriptions of koranic verses written in the kufi font in its frontage . To the right of the mihrab , there is a wooden pulpit with an arabic arabesque of plant element . The preacher's chair in the prayer place dates back to 1803 a.d.
• A singl visit to the mosque  is all that is required to give a visitor an impression of the islamic art techniques that were prevalent during the salahit state these are represented  in the architecture, arts ,wall inscription columns capitals, minarets, domes , wooden boxes and pulpit and mihrab decorations which were all superbly and uniquely executed.
• E beacons of knowledge they first lit in the city of zabid, continu to shine to the present day .

Al Ameriya Madrasa

Al Ameriya Madrasa

• Al Ameriya Madrasa in Rada'a is among the largest and most extravagant  monuments in Yemen with multitude of domes , arches , niches , and decorated inside with intricate carved stucco patterns, inscriptions and exquisite frescoes , painted in colors that are vibrant to this day. Commissioned by Sultan Amar bin Abdul Wahhab in 1498 AD under the Zaheria State , it is considered on of the most important archaeological and historical landmarks in Yemen .
• During the course of its long history , Al Ameriya became a beacon of science and enlightenment that attracted students from all over the world ,which was quite an achievement in those days when traveling was difficult . Many of the science and Knowledge holders of yesteryears graduated from this school which was often the seat of government during the reign of Sultan Amar bin Abdul Wahhab .
• Located at the center of Rada'a , the school is a colossal  building whose six identical round domes , hoisted on tall archways falling on two heavy columns , dominate the surroundings. The Madrasa has three floors that measure forty meters (north – south) by twenty-three  meters (east – west ) .The ground floor was built with stones , while the top two floors used tiles .
• The porticos of the mosque and school were used as meeting corners for students studying religious and worldly sciences and knowledge at the school . The facades of the school are dotted with big arched opening  and remarkable timber screened windows , while the entire structure is spectacularly covered with eye-catch be seen even in the lavatories which reflect  the  modern , refined architecture of the buildings were restored and maintained , and its decorations techniques to ensure the structure manifests the beauty of Islamic architecture and  decorations in Yemen

The city Of Manakh‎

The city Of Manakh14ah:

This city lies in the Haraz mountain range surrounded by terraces situated between Baih fort in the north and the fort of Shaibam Haraz to the south and is at 2,200m above sea–level. There is a daily market in Manakha for the inhabitants of the surrounding mountain villages.

In the past it was an important collection point for the coffee crop before being transported to Hodiedah and Mokha by camel caravans. Manakha is an excellent area for trekking because f the many nearby villages perched on the edge of the mountains. One that deserves special mention is Al-Halrah, one of Yemen’s most beautiful villages.

Al-Hajrah Village

Al-Hajrah is a few kilometers to the west of Mankha. Its high-rise stone houses are some eight stories high and some were estimated hundreds of years old overlooking very steep valleys with beautiful terraces. It is not far from the historical Masar fort, which forms the first line of defense for the village from the west side. This fort is the very same fort where Ali Mohammed Al-Sulayhi emerged as the founder of the Sulayhide Dynasty

(1047-1138 AD. The Ottomans stationed their cannons here to protect the delivery of military supplies to Sana’a from the red sea.

Al-Hajrah Village

Eastern Haraz:

To the east of Haraz there are many attractive villages on both sides of the road leading to Hutaib where the tomb of the Islamaeli scholar Hatim  Bin Ibrahim Al-Hamdani (16^th century AD) can be found this is an important  shrine for the followers of the Isma’aaeli sect who make annual visit from countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Madagascar to this and other Ismaeli shrines situated in various parts of Yemen.

It must be mentioned that the Governorates of Sana’a is rich in archaeological sites and tourist attractions in areas such as Arhab, Sanhan Bani Matar, Raimah, Khawlan, Haymatain, Ashmour and the mountains of Eyal Yazzid, Nihem and Bani Bahlool to name a few



Hadramout

Shibam

The old walled city of Shibam is named after king Shibam Bin Harith Ibn Saba who ruled from here. It was a major city on the overland spice and incense route.
Although its origins are still not completely understood, it was trading at the time of the Sabaeans around the fourth and fifth centuries BC. The present settlement seems to have been established around the third century AD, after the destruction of Shabwa
 It has been the commercial and political capital of Hadramout, many times. More recently, it was the commercial capital Wadi Hadramout until 1940, when an airport was built east of Seiyun, and the economic centre of gravity moved there.
Shibam is made up of domestic, commercial, educational, administrative and religious buildings – a small walled city that is a complete unit in itself. It has seven mosques, including the Rashid Mosque (sometimes called the Masjid al-Jum'a, the Fiday mosque), which date back to the early tenth century. Its unique architectural heritage of 500 mud-brick houses is an extraordinary example of traditional Yemeni building skills. Some of these houses are many centuries old and rise up to seven or eight storeys, the tallest reaching 30m.
 The city's towering appearance prompted Freya Stark to describe it as "the Manhattan of the desert". It results partly from the fact that it is built on a mound made up of the remains of earlier

towns.

The impression is enhanced by the abundance of windows, usually open, with wooden shutters, or harem grilles, and ventilation openings – often two at different levels on each floor; and by the long lines of shadows cast by the corners and edges of buildings in the afternoon sun. the city was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1982.
Those who can afford it limewash their houses to protect them against termites and against the rains and flooding which occur from time to time in sa'il, the bed of the main wadi.
In general the windowless lower floors are used for grain storage, with areas for domestic use above and those for family and leisure above that. The main room on the second floor is used by men for socializing. It often has wonderful carved plasterwork and freestanding decorated wooden columns supporting the ceiling, while women's areas are found higher, usually on the third or fourth floor. The highest rooms are for communal use by the whole family, and on the upper levels there are often bridges (mi'bar) and doors connecting the houses. These are a defensive feature, but also a practical one – especially for old people who find it difficult to walk up and down the interminable staircases.

Seiyun:

Seiyun is the largest town of the Wadi Hdramout and the provincial capital and main government, commercial and communications centre. It is known for the fabulous palm groves that surround it and for its old market where traditional crafts such as jewellery are still practiced.
The town, which has a history going back thousands of years, probably owes its origin to this market, once and important stopping place on the early trade route that ran east through Wadi Masila and on to Shihr on the coast. Over many years the gathering of people here led to an urban centre being developed with houses, mosques and schools.
In 1494 there was an influx of people of the Hamdani tribes from north of Sana'a. Their leader was Amir Badr Ibn Tawariq Kathiri, the ancestor of the Kathiri Sultans who ruled from their capital here from 1516 until independence from the British in 1967.
The massive Sultan's Palace, with its four corner towers, stands in the oldest part of Seiyun, nest to the busy market; it is the largest mud-brick building in the Wadi Hadramout and an outstanding example of mud architecture. It was built in 1873, rebuilt in 1926 by Mansur bin Ghalib al Kathiri and whitewashed by his son Ali in 1935. Today it houses a museum of archaeology with finds from Raybun, one of Yemen's most important ancient sites as well as exhibits on popular traditions, folklore and costumes. It also includes objects from the colonial days.

Tarim:

Encircled by palm groves, is Tarim, which takes its name from a local king, Tarim Ibn Hadramout Ibn Saba Al-Assgar. It was a major centre for the Kathiri state until the 1960s; it was the capital of Hadhramout in ancient times and has been the religious capital of the Wadi Hadramout since the tenth century. Its history, like Shibam's, is related to the rise of the Himyar Kingdom and the destruction of Shabwa.
Tarim's reputation as a centre of religious teaching extended well beyond the Arabian Peninsula, reaching east Africa and Southeast Asia. Locals will tell you that there was once a mosque for each day of the Islamic year. (This was mainly due to the building of mosques by returned merchants as an offering of thanks for the wealth and business prosperity they had won in south – east Asia).

 One of the most impressive, with its south-east Asian influences and 50-ft-high minaret, is the Al Muhdhar mosque. Built in 1915, it is one of the great symbols of Yemeni architecture. Tarim is also known for its libraries, the most famous being the Al Kaf Manuscripts Library, which houses around  5000 manuscripts from the surrounding region covering religion, the thoughts of the prophets, Islamic law, Sufism, medicine, astronomy, agriculture, biography, history, and mathematics. Many go back hundreds of years, and often contain vibrantly colored illuminations and illustrations.
The architecture of  Tarim is more varied than that of any other Hadramout town. The town's building boom began in the nineteenth century and reached its height between the late 1920s and the early  1940s.