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Where Is Yemen |
| The Yemen Republic is located in
the south-west corner of the Arabian Peninsula (Southwest Asia). It is
situated between the 12th and the 20th northern latitude and between the
41st and 45th eastern longitude. The Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia
in the North, by the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the
South, by the Sultanate of Oman in the East and by the Red Sea in the
West. Yemen has an area of more than about 550.000 km². (without the
desert "The Empty Quarter") |
| The old Arabic legends and even the
Yemenis say that AL-YAMAN
derives from the word AL-YUMN
(blessing and prosperity). This meaning
agrees with the name "Arabia Felix". |
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Entry regulations |
Entrance visas for Yemen are available very easily from
all Yemeni embassies or consulates in your home country on payment of
certain fees. Where Yemeni diplomatic missions do not exist, visitors
may get a transit visa valid for 96 days - possibility to renew - at the
entrance port. Every official visitor to Yemen receives immediately
after arrival a permit to stay one month. Within this period you do not
need to register with the police or to get a departure permit. However,
there are departure taxes which all persons leaving - Yemeni or
foreigners - must pay at the port of departure.
You need a
passport which is valid for six months after your application and two
photos. Maximum stay is one month. Price depends on the kind of visa and
your nationality:
+/- 30 US$ for a tourist visa single entry
+/-
60 US$ for a double entry visa
Your visit to the country has to be
done within three months of your application. |
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Climate |
The climate in Yemen is various and depends on the
different altitudes of the regions.
There are no distinctive limits
between the seasons. Generally there are two main seasons (summer and
winter). During summer the climate is hot with high humidity dominating
in the coastal area.
In winter the climate in the coastal area is
relatively moderate. Occasional rains in the summer are caused by the
monsoon coming from the Indian Ocean. These rains decrease the high
temperatures in the coastal area during the summer.
The weather
in the mountain area is moderate in summer and relatively cold in
winter. During winter it becomes especially cold in the night and in the
early morning, with pleasant sunny days. |
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Places To See |
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Sana'a: One
of the oldest urban settlements of mankind, probably founded by Sham - son
of Noah, since 1984 declared by UNESCO as "World Heritage of
Mankind", sightseeing of the old city, the souk with its different
branches and caravansaries, visit of the National Museum,
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Wadi Dhar: Leisure place of the people
of Sana’a, famous for its rock palace of the Imam and its fruit gardens,
every Friday wedding dances on the plateau, visit of the palace, small
walking trip through the Wadi and the village Al-Gabel. |
| Thula/Hababah: Together
with Thula Himyarite capital of the Yafur dynasty until the beginning of
Islam (7th/8th cent.), retreat place of the imams in the 16th cent. during
the First Ottoman Conquest, visit of fortress town Kaukaban, from there
marvelous open view over the whole surrounding area, small walk downhill
to Shibam |
| Beit Al Faqih: Fridays,
biggest weekly regional market of the Yemen in the Africa-like coastal
plain of Tihama |
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Zabid:
Former capital and first university of Arabia in the 9th cent.,
in the 16th cent. seat of the Ottoman governor, visit of the old city with
its mosques and citadel |
| Khokha:
Fishing village
with palm woods along the Red Sea, swimming is possible, facultative boat
cruise in the Red Sea, diving possible |
| Al-Makha: Former
coffee port of the Yemen, impressive landscape along the coast between Al-Khokha
and Al-Makha |
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Taiz:
Situated on the foot of the 3000m high mountain Djabal Saber;
famous for its beautiful mosques from the 13th / 14th cent., visit of the
Ashrafyah-mosque, the souks and the National museum, drive upon the
mountain Djabal Saber |
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Al-Janad Mosque:
This mosque was built in the lifetime of the Prophet Mohamed. It is a
courtyard mosque and together with the Great Mosque in Sana’a one of the
oldest mosques of Islam. Both mosques are built after the model of the
Kaaba-mosque in Mecca |
| Jiblah: Capital of
Yemen in the 11th cent. under the rule of the unique queen in Islam,
situated in the green Mountain-Yemen, walk through the 1000 year old town,
visit of the perimeter of the Queen Arwa Mosque. |
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Hadhramaut: In ancient times
Hadhramaut was called the "Holy Land". Many graves from
pre-Islamic prophets (ex. HUD in Quran = Eber in Old Testament) and other
saints still reflect those times. The Wadi Hadhramaut can only be entered
through Rub Al Khali desert/Marib and the mountain plateau Al-Djol /Al-Mukalla
-is a fertile oasis surrounded with date-palms and majestic sand-rock
mountains. Situated in this cultural landscape are the three cities. |
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Shibam: Capital
of the ancient kingdom Hadhramaut after the fall of the town Shabwah,
founded in the 3rd cent, a town with unique clay houses and impressive art
work on wooden doors and windows, visit of the town, before sunset a walk
along the mountain situated opposite the town in order to enjoy the
skyscraper-silhouette of Shibam in the evensong. |
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Sa’yun: Center
of the Wadi Hadhramaut and former residence of the Kathiri sultans, The
palace of the sultan has a folklore and an archaeological museum, visit of
the market, the handicraft market and the palace with its museums |
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Tarim: Spiritual
center of the Hadhramaut since the 10th cent., romantic town with many
palaces and mosques, walk through the city, visit of the Ahgaf library
which has old manuscripts of the Holly Quran. |
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Marib: Situated
on the beginning of the Rub Al-Khali desert, former Capital of the ancient
empire of the Queen of Sheba, Now capital of the governorate Marib near
the big oil fields, visit of the old city, the temples, the remains of the
3000 years Old Dam and the new dam. |
| Baraqish: Former
capital of the ancient kingdom Ma’een, caravan station on the ancient
incense road, 2400 year old city wall with inscriptions, excavation of an
temple, sightseeing. |
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Aden: An
urban settlement since ancient times. The legends say, that Cain and Abel
founded Aden, natural harbor and economical center of the Yemen in the
future. Visit of the impressive ancient cisterns. "The Tanks",
the palace of the sultan, the Aideroos-mosque, the house of Rimbaud, the
Tawahi quarter, the Gold Mohur coast and the market, boat cruise |
| Hajjah: Fortress
of the imams in the 16th and 20th cent., one of the most beautiful
mountain landscapes of the Yemen between Kohlan and Hajjah. |
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Saada: Foundation
of the Imamate in 892, interesting clay architecture, walk on the city
wall, ancient rock drawings and picturesque clay villages in the
surrounding of Saada. |
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Shaharah: A
place of escape for the imams in the 19th cent., 2800m above sealable,
walk downhill over the famous bridge which connects the two peaks Fish and
Amer. |
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Al-Mukalla:
Capital of the governorate Hadhramaut, situated on the Indian Ocean, visit
of the old city and the souks. The old houses still have artistic work on
the wooden doors and windows |
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