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Travel tips for Yemen The Republic of Yemen is a country in the far south west of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Oman, Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. The islands of Perim and Kamaran in the Red Sea, and Socotra in the Indian Ocean are also part of Yemeni territory. Yemen, the land of the legendary Queen of Sheba, fascinates visitors with impressive evidence of a 3000 year-old history, extraordinary architecture and diverse nature.
The history of Yemen goes back to the 8th Century BC and is influenced most by the trade in incense and the kingdoms that were founded as a result of this flourishing trade.
The most important empire was that of Sheba, who is mentioned in the Old Testament. Around the turn of the Common Era, the antique kingdoms that were built on the incense trade began to decline. Although in the 3rd Century the Himyarites once again succeeded in unifying the country, it was conquered in 525 by the Ethiopian kingdom of Aksum, and annexed by the Persian empire in 570. In the year 628, Yemen was introduced to the teachings of the Prophet Mohammad and the population rapidly converted to Islam. Within the caliphate, Yemen became a mere peripheral province. Several dynasties played a role during the time after the 9th Century, the most significant of these was the Zaydi state. In the north of Yemen, the Zaydis were to rule until the beginning of the 1960s. When in the 10th century, the focus of the trade route between the Mediterranean sea and India shifted from Iraq to Egypt, Yemen experienced a period of economic prosperity. The country's golden age fell in the time of the Rasulid dynasty until the 15th century. With the discovery of the sea route to India by the Portuguese, the country lost in importance for world trade and in the 16th Century was conquered by the Ottomans. After the Suez Canal was opened in the 19th Century, Yemen again became the focal point for major world powers. While Britain occupied Aden and South Yemen, North Yemen was able to claim independence from the Ottomans under the Zaidis. However, the ruling Imans did not succeed in modernising the country. Their conservative rule led to the overthrow of the Zaidis in 1962 and the proclamation of the Republic of Yemen. Since then, there have been attempts to modernise the country, but due to the rapid increase in the population, Yemen's economic problems have not really been solved to date.
The country is mainly mountainous and is dominated by three main types of landscape: the Hadramaut, a 30 to 60 km wide coastal plain flanked by a mountain range; the plateau in the interior with an average altitude of 2,000 to 2,500 m; and Tihama, a scarcely populated semi-desert on the west coast. The highest peak in the country is Jabal Nabi Shoveb.
Due to the increased risk of kidnappings and the threat of terrorist attacks, travellers are strongly advised to abstain from individual travel throughout the country. Travelling in Yemen should be undertaken only with reliable and experienced Yemeni travel agencies. There are explicit warnings especially concerning travel in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country. Please consult the foreign office website, which is regularly updated, before embarking on your journey. Climatic conditions differ greatly depending on the altitude. The coastal area is hot and dry all year round with temperatures between 34-53 ° C. In the high mountains, the summer is warm, with cold winter nights (October - March). The annual precipitation is very low. The best time to travel in Yemen is between October and April.
Sana'a International Airport (El-Rahaba) is located 13 km or 8 miles north of the city. Other international airports are in Aden, Taiz and Al Janad Hodeida. The flight from London to Sana'a usually involves at least one stop and is operated by the national airline Yemenia Yemen Airways and Egyptair for example.
Passport and visas are generally required. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry.
Sana'a City, Ta'izz, al-Hudaydah, Aden, Ibb, Dhamar, Al-Mukalla are the largest cities in Yemen.
Sana'a, the capital, is located in the centre of the country on a plateau of about 2400m in altitude. It is on the trade route between Aden and Mecca. Founded in the 1st Century AD, the city is mentioned in the Bible. Buildings up to seven floors high and over 400 year old houses in the old city are the reason that the historic centre of Sana'a is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The Citadel Qasr al-Silah is very well maintained and was built after the introduction of Islam in the 7th Century. The city wall stretches from the Citadel to Bab Shaoob in the north to Tahrir place. An overwhelming experience for the senses is the 1000 year old market Souk al-Milh, which is divided into 40 different crafts and trade areas. The Great Mosque of Sana'a is the oldest and largest mosque in the city and one of the oldest in the Arab world. It was built during the life of the Prophet Mohammed and expanded in the year 705. On Tahrir place in the Dar al-Shukr (Palace of gratitude) is the National Museum with interesting exhibits dating from pre-Islamic times, bronze sculptures and folk art.
The city of Shibam, the former capital of the Hadramaut oasis, is located about 40 km or 24 miles northwest of Sana'a and is famous for its unique mud skyscrapers with up to 13 floors. The city was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites in 1982. Of particular historical importance and yet another cultural heritage is the Medina of Zabid, about 100 km or 60 miles southeast of the port city of al-Hudaydah. There are also some very scenic and historical sites on the Red Sea. Particularly noteworthy here is the port city of Aden, with its harbour, museums and impressive mosques.