The history of Yemen is an interesting one that is shaped by its strategic location bordering the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Its location placed it on trading routes between the West and the East, and therefore became a prized possession for those empires that depended on trade revenues.

Its ancient history consists of rule by three successive groups of people: the Minaean, the Sabaean, and the Himyarites. Ancient Yemen became known as Arabia Felix in Latin (Happy Arabia). The three civilizations ruled Yemen collectively for about 1200 years. However, in the First Century BC, when the Romans occupied Egypt, the caravan routes in Arabia lost most of heir wealth. The use of ships sent traffic and wealth past Yemen. The weakened state could not resist the occupation by the Abyssinians (present-day Ethiopia) and the Sassanids of Persia.

The birth and spread of Islam, however, changed the course of Yemen’s history. Yemen’s proximity to Mecca and Medina led to the rapid acceptance and conversion of the people to the Muslim faith. And, Yemen began to be ruled by a series of Musim Caliphs, beginning with the Umayyad rule in the end of the 7th century and Abbasid rule in the early 8th century. But, the establishment of a Yemeni dynasty in the 9th century ended the authority of the Arab caliphate. Yemen developed its own culture and even established the Zaydi imamate in the north of of Yemen.

The Ottoman Empire was able to subjugate the Yemeni people as it spread its power and control over the Middle East. But, unlike its fellow Arab states, Yemen was able to oust Ottoman rule within a century. But, it was under Ottoman rule that Yemen was able to form a successful coffee trade, from the port town of Mocha in the 1500s.

Yemen was split into two countries after the British seized Aden in 1839 and the Ottomans reoccupied the north of the country in 1849. In the early 1900s, the two powers drew the border between what was to be the two countries called North Yemen and South Yemen. By 1918, the Ottomans withdrew from North Yemen, but the effects of their rule would resonate until the reunification of the 2 countries in 1990.

North Yemen

Between 1918 and 1962, North Yemen was ruled by two powerful Imams. Imam Yahya ibn Muhammad and his son Ahmad strengthened the state and secured its borders. Autocratic rule was rejected by a significant opposition group and in 1962, the imamate was deposed. President Abdullah al-Sallal took over and led the country through a tough civil war between those who advocated change and those who remained loyal to the imamate.

This internal conflict took on a regional flavor when neighboring countries began lending their support to the various factions. Saudi Arabia and Jordan favored the deposed imam, while the advocators of change received support from Egypt. The interference of these Arab states proved to do more harm than good and in 1966 fighting began again. In 1967, President al-Sallal was overthrown and Abdul Rahman al-Iryani took over. Iryani was able to call a truce between the two factions and was able to preside over the adoption of a democratic constitution. However, in 1974 after fighting began again, military oficers led by Colonel Ibrahim al-Hamdi staged a bloodless coup and retained power until his assassination in 1977. President Ali Abdullah Saleh is still in power.

South Yemen

After the British occupation of Aden in 1839, Aden became a very important port on the Red Sea. However, the British occupation led to the formation of a federation of states and a dependency on the British government. By the 1960s, a nationalist movement developed and forced British withdrawal from the country in 1967.

Qahtan Mohammad al-Shaabi became the President of South Yemen and started to lead the country on a socialist path. Two successive governments replaced that of al-Shaabi and by the 1970s the country was developing close ties to the Soviet Union. The 1970s also saw a rise in border disputes and fighting between North and South Yemen.

After 1980, the two countries began on a path of reconciliation and by 1989 a reunification agreement was resolved. Over 100 years of separation would take its toll, though, and violence erupted throughout the early 1990s. In 1994, the Yemeni legislature worked to reform the country’s 1990 unification plan. Ali Abdullah Saleh, the former leader of North Yemen, was elected president and he appointed Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi as vice president.

Yemen has traveled a long and difficult road, but is working to develop its economy. Unfortunately, a long-standing border dispute between the country and Saudi Arabia still poses difficulty for the young, unified country.

Total Population: 17,479,206 (2000 estimate)

Breakdown by Age:
0-14 years:48% (male 4,118,292; female 3,971,886)
15-64 years:49% (male 4,243,809; female 4,065,429)
65 + years:3% (male 278,133; female 264,681)

Population according to City: San’a (510,622), Aden (425,000), Hodeida (1,052,000), Taiz (200,635), Ibb (1,252,000), Dhamar (699,000), Hajjah (720,000)

Population Growth Rate: 3.4% (2000 estimate)

Birth Rate: 43.4 births/1,000 population

Fertility Rate: 7.06 children/woman

Mortality Rate: 9.88 deaths/1,000 population

Infant Mortality Rate: 70.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy: 59.98 years

Ethnic Groups: Arab, Afro-Arab in west, South Asians in southern regions and small European communities

Literacy: 38%



Source: CIA, The World Factbook, 1999; Infoplease.com, 2000.

Overview: Yemen reported strong growth in the mid-1990s with the establishement of oil production, but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998. Yemen has been workign with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to follow a structural adjustment program designed to modernize the economy. The high population growth rate internal political problems and low prices make the government’s task especially difficult.

GDP: $12.1 billion (1998 estimate)

GDP/Per Capita: $740 (1998 estimate)

Inflation Rate: 11% (1998 estimate)

Labor Force: Unavailable, but most people are employed in agriculture and heading or as expatriate laborers. Services, construction, industry and commerce account for less than one-half of labor force.

Unemployment: 30% (1995 estimate)

Main Trading Partners:
Exports: China, South Korea, Thailand, Brazil, Japan
Imports: UAE, Saudi Arabia, US, France, Brazil

Debt: $4.9 billion (1998 estimate)

Aid: $176.1 million (1995 estimate)

Currency: Yemeni Rial (YRI)
Source: CIA, The World Factbook, 1999.

Located in southwest Asia, Yemen is a coastal country that borders Saudi Arabia on the north, Oman to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the south and the Red Sea to the west. With an area of approximately 530, 000 square kilometers, Yemen is about four times the size of Greece.

The topography of the country is varied. The coastal plain is narrow and sandy and is subject to sparse rainfall. While the west coast is a semidesert region. Within the country, however, mountains, divided by deep valleys and high plateaus, dominate the center of the country. The highest mountain in Yemen is Jabal an-Nabia Shua’ayb (with an altitude of 3,760 meters above sea level). The highlands have no permanent watercourses, but the cut valleys and gorges in the terrain may account for the lush cultivable land that is located there.

The climate of the coastal plains is hot and dry and the average temperature is 28°C. Average annual rainfall is 76 millimeters n the south cost and 229 millimeters on the east coast. The mountainous interior has a temperate climate and winters are generally cool. Annual rainfall in the highlands ranges from 406 to 762 millimeters.

Environmental issues facing the country stem from a lack of basic services in the country such as safe drinking water and sanitation. Water scarcity is a chronic problem in some areas, and the few freshwater resources the country has are in danger of salinization as a result of irrigation techniques that are used in agriculture. The country’s natural resources include petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, coal, gold, lead, nickel and copper. Fertile soil in the country has also helped with the agricultural industry.



Source:CIA, The World Factbook, 1999.

The government of Yemen is a republic. The Republic of Yemen was established on May 22, 1990 with the unification of the Yemen Arab Republic (North Yemen) and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen).

The Republic consists of 17 governates (called muhafazats). They are: Abyan, ‘Adan, Al Bayda, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, ‘Ataq, Dhamar, Hadharamawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, M’arib, Sa’dah, San’a’ and Ta’izz.

A constitution was ratified on April 16, 1991 and amended three years later on September 28, 1994. The legal system in Yemen is based on Islamic Law, Turkish Law, English common law and local tribal customary law. Yemen does not accept compulsory International Court of Justice (The Hague) jurisdiction.

Voting rights are universal at the age of 18. There is an executive branch headed by President Lt. General Ali Abdullah Salih and Vice President Major General abd al-Rab Mansur al-Hadi. The president is elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms. The president appoints the vice president and prime minister. The cabinet (or Council of Ministers) is also appointed by the president, but with the advice of the prime minister.

The legislative branch consists of a unicameral House of Representatives. There are 301 seats that are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms. The next election is scheduled for 2001. The House of Representatives is dominated by the General People’s Congress (GPC) with 189 seats. This is the party of the President. The next largest holder is the party of Islah (Islamic Reform Grouping), which has 52 seats. There are over 12 political parties active in Yemen.

Source:CIA, The World Factbook, 1999.

Regulations

Visas are required for all visitors. One application form and 2 photographs must be presented with employer’s supporting letter. Processing of applications takes 3 to 6 days. Visitors must register within 5 days to obtain an exit visa.

Travelers’ advisories are in effect for many countries. However, Yemen has stabilized since the civil war. Still, travelers are urged to register with their embassy on arrival and stay away from the Yemeni-Saudi and Yemeni-Omani border. Kidnappings are a common occurrence but the kidnapped tourists are often released unharmed. There have been some fatalities, unfortunately, during rescue attempts.

Customs regulations admit 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars and ½ pound of tobacco and 1 quart of wine duty-free.

Currency regulations suggest that visitors exchange all local currency before departure due to the difficulty in exchanging riyals abroad.

Currency and Costs

The currency of Yemen is the Riyal. 1 Yemeni Riyal = 100 fils.

Sample Costs

Hotel Rooms*:
5 star 1 per US$250
2 per US$270

4 star 1 per YR650
2 per YR750

*Add 12% service charge.

Meals:
5 star Breakfast US$15
Lunch US$18
Dinner US$18

4 star Breakfast YR40
Dinner YR140

Transportation:
Taxi US$7.50
Car hire day $50

The total average cost for a 3-day visit is YR86,500.

Hotels

Aden
Aden Movenpick
Khormaker, Aden
Telephone: 232911
Fax: 221255
5 Star: 182 rooms, near to the center of the city, air condition, restaurant, bar, cable tv, outside pool, business and conference facilities

Gold Mohur
Al Tawahi Street, Aden
Telephone: 24171
3 Star: 120 rooms

Marib
Bilqis Hotel
Telephone: 302372
Fax: 302376

Sana’a
Hadda Hotel
Hadda Road
Telephone: 215212
Fax: 263094
140 rooms, swimming, tennis, health club, conference and banqueting facilities

Sheraton Sana’a
Nashwan al-Himyari Street
Telephone: 237500
Fax: 251521
5 Star: 285 rooms, 18 suites, air condition, restaurant, bar, cable tv, outside pool, fitness room, business and conference facilities.

Taj Sheba
Ali Abdel-Moghni Street
Telephone 272372
Fax: 274129
119 rooms, 29 suites, air condition, restaurant, cable tv, outside pool, fitness room, business and conference facilities.


Sources: Middle East Economic Digest, MEED Express Diary, 2000, 1999; CIA, The World Factbook, 1999.

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