 Situated on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, Yemen is a Middle Eastern country comprised of the formerly separate republics of North and South Yemen. The country is bordered by Red Sea to the west and both the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden to the south while Oman lies to the northeast of the country and the remaining land is bordered with Saudi Arabia.
Yemen is an Islamic country with a very strict religious environment and culture, observing all of the Muslim teachings as fervently as any Middle Eastern country. This does not by any means however create an environment in which non-Muslims cannot enjoy vacations or are likely to feel ostracised for not sharing the local’s beliefs. Western visitors are truly welcome and the country seeks to encourage tourism as much as possible, while hoping that holiday makers will be savvy enough to respect Muslim beliefs, practices and traditions.
 Historically, some might say Yemen is almost as old as time itself with evidence suggesting the country was occupied over four millennia ago. The variety of civilisations and cultures that have occupied the country over the years have made it one of the Middle East’s most interesting destinations from a historical perspective.
Sana’a is the capital of the Republic of Yemen (created in 1990) and is a fascinating city that many say has barely changed in appearance for nearly an entire century. Both Islamic and pre-Islamic architecture occupy the city skyline making for picture postcard views which can be appreciated from any prime vantage point. Home to the Great Mosque of Sana'a, the National Museum and the famous Sana’a souk, this is a city with no shortage of visitor interest and is the country’s prime tourist destination offering some of the best accommodation options and visitors amenities.
 Aden is the country’s popular coastal city and was the former capital of the old South Yemen. Here, visitors will find some fine beaches set amid stunning scenery with the islands of the Red Sea in one direction and rolling valleys in another. Opportunities for visitors to go scuba diving in the Red Sea are plentiful with week-long trips available giving true underwater enthusiasts the experience of a lifetime.
Yemen has established itself as a viable and attractive tourist destination, capable of offering a unique holiday experience with all the comforts expected of a solid visitor infrastructure. Popular hotels provide all the amenities one would find in a developed country, while many local businesses are committed to providing good services to tourists, offering information in English and often employing English-speaking staff.
Yemen has a good selection of accommodation options with big names such as Sheraton, Sofitel and Holiday Inn alongside a large number of highly respectable independently owned hotels. The best hotels are to be found in Sana’a since this is the country’s primary visitor destination although quality establishments are to be found in Aden also.
Weather
 Yemen’s climate varies depending on the altitude of the area in question with the coastal plains experiencing hot and dusty desert weather for the greater part of the year and the highlands experiencing warm summers and temperate winters. As a general rule however, the larger part of the country experiences minimal rainfall and high temperatures with summers seeing highs in the 40s (ºC). Humidity is low and the summer heat is often too much for those not accustomed to it, hence holiday makers tend to avoid the period from June to September. October through until April sees the most agreeable climate and the greatest influx of tourists into the country. If visiting the coastal plains then visitors should bring lightweight clothing irrespective of the time of year whereas a trip to the highlands between November and April would necessitate warmer clothing.
History
 Yemen is hailed as one of the world’s oldest centres of civilisation with a history dating back 4000 years. The first millennium BC was the beginning of the first notable period of the country’s ancient history around which time the region began to prosper from the frankincense and myrrh trade. The second notable period is associated with the founding of the Sabaean, Awsanian, Minaean, Qatabanian, Hadhramawtian and Himyarite Kingdoms. During these two periods, the region was called ‘Arabia Felix’ meaning Happy Arabia by the Romans, on account of its prosperity as a spice trading centre. At the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 7th, a large number of Sabaeans left Yemen on account of the Ma'rib Dam’s destruction and the region was subsequently incorporated into the empires of Persia Sassanid and Ethiopia. As the 7th century progressed, Islamic caliphs gradually exerted their influence over the region. Once the stronghold of the caliphs was broken, Yemen fell under the control of the Imam dynasties whose theocracies survived successfully until modern times. The mighty Ottoman Empire arrived in the 16th century and took control of North Yemen returning again in the 19th century to do the same. It wasn’t until 1918 that North Yemen gained independence from the Ottomans and it was another 44 years in 1962 before it established itself as a republic.
In 1839, British forces established occupation of the Yemen port of Aden and formed a colony which they protected with the help of local alliances known as protectorates. A complete British withdrawal was not seen until 1967 and the area that they left behind became known as South Yemen. The two regions were finally united as a single republic on May 22 1990.
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