:: Admire Yemen Co.

General Information :

Yemen in Breif
Useful Information
Cuisine
Travel Tips

Yemen weekly Markets
Distance Between Sana’a and other cities
Terms and Conditions

Yemen in Breif:

Ancient civilizations The history of Yemen stretches back over 3,000 years, and its unique culture is still in evidence today in the architecture of its cities, towns and villages. From approximately 1,000 BC this region of the Southern Arabian Peninsula was ruled by three successive civilizations: Minoan, Sabaean and Himyarite. These three kingdoms all depended for their wealth on the spice trade. Aromatics such as myrrh and frankincense were greatly prized in the ancient civilized world and were used as part of various rituals in many cultures, including Egyptian, Greek and Roman.

In the 11th century BC, land routes through Arabia were greatly improved by using the camel as a beast of burden, and frankincense was carried from its production centre at Qana (now known as Bir Ali) to Gaza in Egypt. The camel caravans also carried gold and other precious goods, which arrived in Qana by sea from India. The chief incense traders were the Minaeans, who established their capital Karna (now known as Sadah), before they were superseded by the Sabaeans in 950 BC. The Sabaean capital was Marib, where a large temple was built. The mighty Sabaean civilization endured for about 14 centuries and was based not only on the spice trade, but also on agriculture. The impressive dam, built at Marib in the 8th century, provided irrigation for farmland and stood for over a millennium. Some Sabaean carved inscriptions from this period are still extant. The Himyarites established their capital at Dhafar (now just a small village in the Ibb region), and gradually absorbed the Sabaean kingdom. They were culturally inferior to the Sabaeans and traded from the port of al-Muza on the Red Sea. By the first century BC, the Romans had conquered the area. British and Turkish domination The British conquered Aden in 1839 and it was then known as the Aden Protectorate. The British also made a series of treaties with local tribal rulers, in a move to colonies the entire area of Southern Yemen. British influence extended to Hadhramawt by the 1950s and a boundary line, known as the ‘violet line' was drawn between Turkish Arabia in the North and the South Arabian Protectorate of Great Britain, as it was then known. (This line later formed the boundary between northern and southern Yemeni states in the 1960s.) In 1849 the Turks returned to Yemen and their power extended throughout the whole of that region not under British rule. Local insurrection against the Turks followed and autonomy was finally granted to the Zaydi Imam in 1911. By 1919 the Turks had retreated from Yemen for the last time and the country was left in the hands of Imam Yayha, who became the country's king. Yemen's independence was recognized by Britain in 1925. Modern History Imam Yayha ruled Yemen from 1918 until his assassination in the 1948, failed revolution, and was succeeded by his son Ahmad (1948-1962). Clashes with the British over Aden were characteristic of Ahmad's rule, and he sought protection from Cairo, resulting in a short-lived pact between Yemen, Egypt and Syria. On his father's death in 1962, Ahmad's son, Muhammed al-Badr, ruled for only one week before the 26th September Revolution, led by Colonel Abdullah al-Sallal, proclaimed the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR). The deposed Imam fled to the mountains of the North and his Royalist forces, backed by Saudi Arabia, and waged a civil war against the YAR, which lasted for eight years. Egypt gave aid to the Republican army and a meeting between Egyptian President Gamel Abden Nasser and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia in 1965 led to an agreement to end the involvement of both these countries in the civil war. Arrangements were made to hold a plebiscite to allow the people of YAR to choose their own form of government, but this never happened and fighting resumed in 1966. Egyptian troops withdrew from the region in 1967. War continued until 1969, when the YAR people and army succeeded to control all regions of Yemen and the Royalists were thrown out of the country. Unification In the late 1960s, British presence in Southern Yemen was minimal outside Aden itself. Intense guerrilla fighting throughout the mid-sixties resulted in a British withdrawal from Aden in 1967. With the closure of the Suez Canal, Yemen's economy was on the verge of ruin, and the new People's Republic of South Yemen, which came into being on 30 November 1967, relied heavily on economic support from Communist countries. It became, in effect, the first and only Arab Marxist State. In 1970 the Republic's name was changed to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY). Mutual distrust between the two Yemenis characterized the seventies, and tensions flared into a series of short border wars in 1972, 1978 and 1979. Two presidents of the YAR were assassinated during this period. However, under the Presidency of Ali Abdullah Salah of the Hashid tribe, in the late seventies/early eighties, the stability of the YAR steadily improved. By the end of 1981 a constitution had been drafted in order to implement a merger between the two states. Attempts to consolidate this, however, were delayed by political instability in the PDRY and it was not until 22 May 1990 that the merger was made official. The new country was named the Republic of Yemen. The border was opened and demilitarized and currencies were declared valid in both of the former countries. A referendum sealed the unification of the Yemen, and today's Yemen is probably more accessible than it has ever been throughout its history.

Useful Information:

Terms and ConditionsOfficial Name

Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah (Republic of Yemen)

Location

in the south-west corner of the Arabian Peninsula (South-west Asia)

Land Area:

555,000 sqkm with altitudes of up to 3,700m (over 12,000 ft)

Population:

(current estimate 18 million)

Capital:

Sana'a population ( 900,000; altitude 2,300m )

Official Language:

Arabic (English widely used)

Religion:

Islam

Time:

GMT + 3hours

Currency:

Yemeni Rial = 1 US$ = YR.199.50

Climate: Average

	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
C	12	15	16	18	19	20	20	20	18	14	12	11
F	54	59	61	64	66	68	68	68	64	57	54	52
HRC	10.1	9.8	8.9	9.5	8.9	10.0	7.3	8.3	9.6	10.5	9.8	9.9
MM	0	4	21	46	46	0	20	102	3	9	0	0

Measures:

Metric

Electricity:

220 volts

National Day:

22^nd May

Official hours:

Saturday - Wednesday - 8.00 am to 03.00 pm
(except in Ramadan 10.00 am to 03.00 pm)

Private sector hours:

Saturday - Thursday
8.00 am to 1.00 pm
4.00 pm to 8.00 pm (timings variable)

Air Access to Sana'a

Yemenia from London, Paris, Frankfurt, Rome
Egypt Air from Cairo
Royal Jordanian from Amman
Gulf Air from Bahrain & Abu Dhabi
Emirates from Dubai
Lufthansa from Frankfurt
Qatar Airways from Doha

Airports	Sana'a International : 15 km from city centre. International & domestic airports in Taiz, Aden, Riyan, Seyun, Hodeidah
Health	No vaccination is compulsory, although for up to date information we recommend you contact your local medical organisation
Public holidays	Weekend: Friday. Fixed: 1 May (Labour Day) 22 May (Unity Day) 26 September (National Day) 14 October (National Day) 30 November (National Day)
Moveable	Islamic holidays : Eid al-Adha Eid al-Fitr (Ramadhan) Hijra new year
Business hours	Government : Sat. to Wed. 08:00 to 15:00 Banks : Sat. to Thu. 08:00 to 13:00 Offices : Sat. to Thu. 08:00 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 Shops : Everyday, all day until late.
Credit cards	Major credit cards are accepted in international hotels and a limited number of retailers. Shopping requires cash. Thomas Cook and American Express

Cuisine:

International standard service of European and Oriental food is available at major hotels. A small number of good quality touristy restaurants operate in the main cities.

Hundreds of typical Yemeni restaurants, very simple and inexpensive, serve traditional meat and fish dishes all over the country. Food is fresh and healthy.

Starters	Main Courses
Zahaweg Askary: (A spicy sauce made from fresh tomatoes, green peppers and spices Zahaweg Jobn: (A spicy sauce made from fresh tomatoes, green peppers and spices and Yemeni goat cheese) Shafuut : (Bread with yoghurt, mint, spices and herbs) Helba : (Sauce made from various spices and herbs) Bent Assahn: (Puff pastry covered with honey) Buraik : (Puff pastry stuffed with minced meat) Sabaya : (Typical Yemeni bread covered with honey) Shorbat Adas: (Lentil Soup) Shorbat Khudhar: (Vegetable Soup) Shorbat Borr: (Barley Soup)	Marag Lahm: (Meat Soup) Hanid: (Lamb meat cooked in typical oven with spices) Kabsa: (Rice with Lamb meat) Agda: (Lamb meat cooked with vegetables, tomato sauce and spices) Mohkbazat Sayd: (Fish cooked in typical oven with a spicy tomatoe sauce) Fattt Marag: (Dry bread with meat soup
Vegetable	Bread
Foul: (Broad Beans) Fasuulia: (Beans) Mushakkal: (Mixed vegetables) Adas: (Lentils)	Kudam: (10 different types of whole meal flour) Meluuj: (Wheat Flour) Shaeer: (Barley Flour) Ruumi: (Maiz Flour) Kafua' Bilsen: (Lentils Flour) Khobz: (Wheat Flour)

Travel Tips :

PHOTO - Please do not take photographs of women, you may ask men & children by pointing to your camera, and they rarely refuse. Film with video or movie camera requires permission from the tourism department and can be arranged by our office.
SUNGLASSES - It is advisable to use sunglasses during your tour.
SHORTS - Are understood in Yemen as under pants. For this reason, men & women should not wear shorts.
SHOES - Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
CLOTHES FOR WOMEN - Wide garments that do not cling to the body and cover the delicate arms and calves as a rule.
CAPS - Due to the strong sun (especially in the mountains), you should wear some kind of headgear, a hat, cap or scarf.
ELECTRICITY - Yemen electricity supply is 220 volts Ac.50HZ, so you may need an adapter.
WATER - Tap water in the major cities is drinkable, bottled table water is recommended to drink in the countryside.

Yemen weekly Markets:

Day	Suq's name and place	Comments
Sat	Attalh-Sada	Nice
Sat	Amraan-Road to Hajja & Sada	Nice
Sat	Maraas- north Hodeida-Tihama	Very Nice
Sun	Rubat-Jabal Rayma-Tihama	Very Nice
Sun	Wadi Aldhbab-ca15km from Taiz	Very Nice
Mon.	Alrojum-Mahwet- near W. Surdud	Very Nice
Mon.	Marawa-30Km from Hodeida	Very Nice
Tue	Aljarrahi- Hodeida -Taiz Road	Very Nice
Wed	Mahwet- on the Way to W. Surdud	Nice
Thu	Khamis bani Sad- way to Hodeida	Nice
Thu	Qanawis-way to Hodeida	Nice
Thu	Alkhamis- north of Hodeida	Nice
Fri	Bait Alfaqih-80 Km. From Hodeida	Very nice
Fri	Shibam/Kaukban- by Sana'a	Nice

Distance Between Sana’a and other cities:

Aden	377
Taiz	256
Sa'ada	242
Hajja	127
Hodeida	226
Marib	173
Albayda	268
Dhamar	100
Manache	123
Shibam	34
Jiblah	202
Sayun	523*
Mukalla	773**
Algaidah	1926***

Terms and Conditions:

Rates are quoted net in US dollars
Hotel extras (telephone, mini bar, etc.) are not included and must be paid directly by the travelers.
Validity is subject to change without prior notice in case of significant exchange fluctuation.
Group rates include 1 passenger free for 15 paying.

Reservations & confirmations:

Due to the seasonality of tourism in Yemen (table), reservation lead-times vary during the year as follows

Season	From-To	Reservation	Confirmation
Top	20th Dec. - 10th Jan.	2 month in advance	30 days prior to arrival
High	30th Sep. - 30th Apr.	1 month in advance	20 days prior to arrival
Low	1st May - 29th Sep.	20 days in advance	10 days prior to arrival
FTI undertakes to send confirmations within 72 hours from receipt of reservations or inquiries sent in writing (except during Yemeni week-ends and holidays).

Seasonal surcharges:

Rates quoted with no specific date may be subject to surcharges particularly during the Christmas and Easter periods

Payment terms:

Down payment :50 % Low season 30 days prior to arrival
High season 45 days prior to arrival
Top season 60 days prior to arrival

Season	Payment
Top	50% 60 days prior to arrival
High	50% 45 days prior to arrival
Low	50% 30 days prior to arrival
These terms are clearly mentioned on all FTI pro-forma invoices. Other payment conditions could be offered for specific quotations. Balance :50 % No later than 7 days prior to arrival. Method of payment : Telex transfer

Cancellation policy

Cancellation prior to arrival

Days	Penalty
Up to 30	None
Between 30 & 20	25% of total costs
Between 20 & 10	50% of total costs
Between 10 & 2	75% of total costs
1 Day or no show	100% of total costs
Other cancellation conditions could be offered for specific quotations

Cancellations & refunds after arrival

Once a tour has commenced, there will be no refund for unused portions of the land arrangements. If FTI decides to modify or terminate a tour for reasons beyond its control, a refund of the unused services or an adjustment will be made. FTI will reply to refund requests within a reasonable time such as to allow refund confirmations from suppliers

Public holidays