Yemen Guide
Yemen – country information
| Country name | Yemen |
| Official name | Republic of Yemen |
| Capital | San’a |
| Continent | Asia |
| Area | 527,968 km2 |
| Population | 25,235,000 (2013) |
| Foundation of a state | 5/22/1990 |
| The highest mountains | Nabi Shu’ayb 3,760 m |
| State system | a pluralist republic with a unicameral parliament |
| The biggest cities | San’a (capital) 725,000, Aden 450,000, Taizz 280,000 |
| Official language | Arabic |
| Ethnicity/National Composition | Arabs 97.5%, Africans 1.2%, others 1.3% |
| Religious affiliation | Sunni 53%, Shia 47% |
| Currency | 1 Yemeni dinar (YER) = 26 Yemeni rials |
| gross domestic product (GDP) | US$2,251 (2012) |
| Average life expectancy of the population | 62.12 years (2006) |
| Structure of GDP | agriculture and fishing 20%, mining and industry 20%, construction 4.5%, services 55.5% |
Yemen – Neighboring States
| State | Capital | Area | Population |
| Oman | Maskat | 309,500 km2 | 3,957,000 |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | 2,149,690 km2 | 29,994,272 |
Country overview
According to Abbreviationfinder, the Republic of Yemen was established in 1990 after the unification of the Yemen Arab Republic (Yemen) on the Red Sea coast and the former People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen (South Yemen) located on the Gulf of Aden. The island of Socotra (3579 km 2) also belongs to Yemen.
Yemen is a state in the south of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. The area of Yemen is 537 thousand square meters. km. It is part of the Middle East, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia. It is washed by the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. Capital Sana’a (since 1990). The official language is Arabic.
In the scorching rocky desert of Yemen, where no rain falls for years, lies the ancient city of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Off the coast of the Red Sea is the historic city of Zabid (the capital in the 13th-15th centuries), also included in the World Heritage List. The isolated archipelago of Socotra is one of the wonders of Yemen.
Resorts and attractions in Yemen
Yemen owns a number of islands in the Red and Arabian Seas. About 2/3 of the country’s territory is occupied by the Yemeni mountains (Jebel). To the west, along the coast of the Red Sea, lies the Tihama Desert, one of the hottest places on Earth. Lots of dormant volcanoes. There are no permanent rivers. Vegetation cover is mostly desert and semi-desert; date palm grows in oases. On the slopes of the mountains there is sparse tree and shrub vegetation.
Socotra Island compares favorably with rare tropical vegetation, dragon trees grow here, as well as huge aloes. The climate is tropical, mostly dry. Temperature in January up to +25*С, in June up to +32*С.
Interesting Facts
Yemen is one of the oldest civilizations. Sana’a, the capital of Yemen, is one of the oldest cities in the world.
Yemen is one of the poorest Arab countries.
The population of Yemen consists mainly of Arab tribes who profess Islam. Average life expectancy in 1995 was 56.7 years.
The earliest known civilization on the territory of Yemen is the state of Main, which existed in the 2nd millennium BC. e. In the 4th c. Yemen was invaded by the troops of the Aksumite kingdom, which was located on the territory of modern Ethiopia. Over the next few centuries, Yemen was ruled by various Muslim dynasties – the Abbasids, Fatimids, Ayyubids, as well as the Mamluks and the Ottoman Turks.
Country data
Location: Middle East
Time zone: CET + 2 (during summer time: CET + 1)
Total area: 527,968 km²
Land area: 527,968 km²
Water area: 0 km²
Length of the state border: 1,746 km
Bordering countries:
Oman: 288 km
Saudi Arabia: 1,458 km
Coastline: 1,906 km
Capital: Sanaa
Governorates: 21
Abyan, Aden, Ad Dali ‘, Al Bayda’, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, Amanat al ‘Asimah (Sanaa City),’ Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma ‘rib, Raymah, Sa’dah, Sanaa, Shabwah, Ta’izz
Electric current: 220 V / 50, 60 Hz
Telephone code: 00 967 (Source: Allcitycodes)
Highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu’ayb 3,760 m
Population
Population: approx. 26 million residents (Countryaah, 2021)
Population growth: 2.7% per year
Population density (residents per km²): 49
Life expectancy: 63 (male), 67 (female)
Official language: Arabic
Religions:
- 99% Muslim
- 1% other
Climate
The climate depends on the region (near the coast, desert, highlands).
In the coastal regions it is very hot, especially in the summer months from April to September. There are daytime temperatures of up to 50 ° C (on average between 30 – 40 ° C). Although the humidity can rise to values of up to 90%, rain falls very rarely all year round. This climate is the hardest to endure for Europeans.
In the desert region (in the east of the country) it is always very hot and dry. It almost never rains.
The higher regions still have the most pleasant climate for Europeans. It can be compared to a very warm summer in Central Europe. In this region, too, there is little rain.
Currency / finance
Currency unit: Yemen Rial (YER)
Classification: 1 rial = 100 fils
ATMs: In some banks in larger banks in Sanaa, Aden and Mukalla. Almost only the VISA card is accepted.
International credit cards: These are only accepted by larger hotels and banks in the capital.
Regulations: The national currency may not be imported or exported. There is no limit to the amount of foreign currencies that can be imported. The export of foreign currencies is limited to the declared import. There is an obligation to declare.
Exchange offices and banks that accept foreign currencies are almost exclusively in the capital. You should therefore exchange the required amounts before traveling to the surrounding area and keep the bill of exchange in a safe place.
Customs regulations
The following may be carried duty-free:
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco
- 1 liter of alcoholic drinks (only for non-Muslims!)
- small amounts of perfume
(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)
Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.
There is an import ban on weapons of all kinds, drugs and pornographic material.
Likewise, you are not allowed to bring any products with you when entering the country that were (wholly or partially) produced in Israel.
Travel advice
We urgently warn against traveling to Yemen! All Germans who are still there are requested to leave Yemen!
The German embassy in Sanaa is closed. Consular help in an emergency is not possible.
The security situation across the country is extremely bad. State authorities are rarely able to provide assistance.
When traveling to Yemen there is an increased risk of being a victim of a bomb attack or kidnapping.
Especially in the south of the country there are still minefields that have not been cleared.
Behavioral advice
You shouldn’t take individual trips. Especially at night you should only go in groups.
Economy
Due to the poorly developed infrastructure, there is no strong industrial development.
Most foreign currencies are earned from the export of oil, lime and salt.
Industries: aluminum production, oil production, fishing, food production, textiles
Natural resources: lead, petroleum, fish, gold, lime, coal, copper, salt
Land use:
- Usable land: 3%
- Grain cultivation: 0%
- Pasture area: 30%
- Forests: 4%
- other: 63%
