Political Overview
Yemen, officially the Republic of Yemen, is situated at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, with its constitutional capital at Sana’a. Since the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, the country has been a republic, but the political landscape has been deeply affected by civil conflict that intensified in 2015. Various factions including the internationally recognized government led by President Rashad al-Alimi and the Houthi movement controlling much of the north vie for authority. Despite ongoing instability, the government in Sana’a continues to assert its legitimacy, and international diplomatic efforts aim to restore lasting peace and rebuild state institutions.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
Yemen’s cultural tapestry reflects millennia of history as a crossroads of ancient trade routes. The Old City of Sana’a characterized by its towering mud‑brick skyscrapers and ornate wooden balconies stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Yemen’s most celebrated tourism attractions. Equally renowned is the “Manhattan of the Desert,” the mud‑brick city of Shibam in Wadi Hadhramaut, often cited as the world’s earliest example of high‑rise urban planning. Yemenis take great pride in their tribal traditions, distinctive cuisine (notably saltah and bint al‑sahn), and the poetic art of “Zamil” songs, all of which underscore the nation’s enduring cultural identity.
Geographical Landscape, Area, and Climate
Covering approximately 527,970 square kilometers, Yemen’s terrain is extraordinarily varied: the rugged western highlands, the arid Rub’ al Khali desert to the east, and the tropical archipelago of Socotra off the Horn of Africa. Socotra Island, recognized by UNESCO for its unique biodiversity, draws adventurous travelers with its alien‑like dragon’s blood trees and endemic wildlife. Yemen’s climate ranges from hot and humid along the coastal plains to temperate in the highlands and scorching in the desert, shaping diverse agricultural practices from coffee terraces in the mountains around Ibb to frankincense groves in Hadhramaut.
