The Republic of Yemen is a small Middle Eastern country known for its rich history and as the reputed home of the Queen of Sheba. Until recently, Yemen was divided into separate northern and southern states. Many Yemenis still follow old customs yet push for a modern democratic government. Yemen is a source of curiosity for an increasing number of tourists. Visitors can see mountains, beaches, volcanoes, deserts and unique wildlife.

Ancient History

Yemen lies on ancient spice routes and served as a crossroads for travelers heading to and from Asia and Africa.  The Romans invaded Yemen in the first century. They called the area Arabia Felix because of its wealth and fertile areas. Yemen was later invaded in the sixth century by Ethiopians and Persians.

Yemen converted to Islam in 628 A.D. In the late ninth century, most of the mountainous area of Yemen was controlled by imams of the Zaydi Shia Islamic sect. The Shafa’i school of Sunni Islam gained controlled of the south and coastal region of Yemen.

The British took control of the Aden port in southern Yemen in the nineteenth century and built a protectorate area around it, which they controlled until 1967. 

The northern state of Yemen was controlled by the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman sultan appointed the officials who ran Yemen. This lasted until 1918 when the Ottoman Empire collapsed and northern Yemen became an independent state.

On Nov. 30, 1967, the Nationalist Liberation Front proclaimed southern Yemen a Marxist state under the name People’s Republic of Southern Yemen. It was the only Marxist state in the Arab world. Following the proclamation, hundreds of thousands of people moved to northern Yemen. North and south Yemen remained divided until modern times.

Culture

As of April 2011, Yemen has 25,130,000 people and a population growth rate of three percent. Yemenis are mainly Shaf’i or Zaydi Muslims, though there are some Salafi Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus. Arabic is the primary language spoken. Mehri, Soqotri and Bathari are also spoken in the south.

Yemenis retain much of their traditional culture. Many people wear traditional Arab clothing and follow ancient customs, such as chewing a narcotic plant called khat in the afternoons. Although the country is becoming more integrated, tensions remain between the north and the south.

Approximately 65 percent of women are illiterate, versus only 25 percent of men. Women have fewer rights and a lower social status. In 2008, it was estimated that 85 percent of boys attended primary school education and 49 percent went to secondary school, compared to 62 percent and 26 percent of girls respectively. 

The work force is mainly agricultural with over half the working population employed in that field. Approximately 17 percent work in public services, seven percent in construction and four percent in manufacturing. The unemployment rate is high with 25 percent or more Yemenis out of work. 

Food

Yemen food is spicy, rich and flavorful. The different dishes trace their origins back to ancient times. Many Indian herbs and imported spices are used, such as cumin, turmeric, saffron, coriander and cardamom. Fresh mint, garlic and chilies are also commonly found in dips and prepared dishes.

The stable dish of Yemen is flat bread, though breads of various sizes and flavors are sold all over Yemen. A popular bread made from barely called malvj is a Yemen favorite. Bread is often served with a local dish called zhug, which combines chilies, garlic, pepper, coriander and other spices.

Meat dishes are another Yemeni favorite, though many people cannot afford to eat meat more than once or twice a week. Lamb, chicken and beef – typically grilled or boiled – are the most popular kinds of meat available. Fish, lentils, rice and cereal are also typical fare in Yemen.

A coffee beverage is commonly served at the end of Yemen meals. The city of Mocca is famous for its coffee. However, coffee is too expensive for most Yemen people. Instead, they made a drink from coffee husks and ground ginger known as Qishr.

Travelers may be unhappy to learn that alcoholic beverages are rare in Yemen because drinking is forbidden to Muslims. Visitors may find alcohol at Sheraton hotels, but it is expensive. Travelers are also discouraged from eating food sold from street vendors.

Geography

Yemen is on the southern end of the Arabian Plateau, situated between Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast. Along the west and southern edges of Yemen are the Red Sea, Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The coastline runs for 1,184 miles, or 1,906 kilometers. The country is approximately the size of Pennsylvania and California combined; it comprises 203,796 square miles, or 527,970 square kilometers.

The capital of Yemen is Sanaá. It is also Yemen’s largest city. Yemen’s terrain is varied. The interior is mountainous with narrow coastal plains in the south, west and east. The northern area near the Saudi Arabian border is mainly desert. A semi-desert coastal plain called the Tihamah runs along the Red Sea.

Modern History

The Republic of Yemen was formed when the Yemen Arab Republic of northern Yemen and the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of southern Yemen became unified on May 22, 1990. Soon after unification and when the Gulf War ended in April 1991, hundreds of thousands of expatriates returned to Yemen from the Gulf states. This caused significant economic problems and high unemployment.

In 1994, a civil war began as southern Yemen tried to secede from the new nation. The north quickly subdued the south and offered a general amnesty to the south.

In the last decade, Yemen has been the location of several terrorist attacks. After al-Qaeda attempted an attack on a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day in 2009, the government agreed to step up their efforts to subdue militants. A truce with Houthi rebels in northern Yemen has freed up the government to fight terrorism.

Yemen’s economy is heavily dependent on oil, though it had less oil than most of its neighbors. Yemen is the poorest of the Middle Eastern countries. Other exports include cotton, coffee, and dried and salted fish.

Politics

When the Republic of Yemen was born in May 1990, Ali Abdullah Saleh became its first President and Ali Salim Al-Bidh became the Vice President. President Ali Abdullah Saleh was re-elected in 2006 for an additional seven years. Yemen also has a prime minister. There is a bicameral parliament serving as the legislative branch. The president appoints one of the chambers.

Islam is the official state religion as named in the Yemen constitution. The constitution permits freedom of religion, but non-Muslims may not hold elected office and all legislation must be based on Islamic law. The main political parties include the Yemeni Socialist Party, the Islah Party and the General People’s Congress.

Weather

The weather in Yemen differs between the coastal Tihama, the central highlands and the deserts. November to February is the best time to visit the Tihama. The summer is extremely hot and there are monsoons anytime from mid-March to September. The highlands are temperate most of the year. The deserts are hot and dry most of the year, though June to September is the hottest time. The island of Socotra, also spelled Suqutra, is usually warm, but windy.

Wildlife

Yemen has a mixture of Arabian and African wildlife. Unfortunately, the habits of many wildlife animals have been destroyed due to overpopulation. It was once common to see foxes, baboons, hyenas, and gazelles. Today, there are some birds and sea turtles, but sightings are somewhat rare. Yemen is also the home to some of the last Ibex and Arabian leopards, though they are on the verge of extinction.