Country guide - Yemen  

 
 

Introduction: Yemen is situated on the south western corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bound by the Red Sea to the west, the Gulf of Aden to the south, Oman to the east and Saudi Arabia to the north. The territory also includes the islands of Socotra, Perim and Kamaran.

Official Name: Republic of Yemen
Area: 482,682 Sq Km (186,365 Sq Miles)
Population: 19,349,881
Continent: Middle East
Density per square mile: 95
Capital City: San'a
Religions: Sunni Muslim 53%, Shiite Muslims 47%. Other religious minorities include small, although dwindling numbers of Jews.

Language: Arabic
Government: Republic

Currency: Rial
GDP: $15.7 billion
GDP Per Head: $840

Natural Resources: Petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west
Land Use: Arable Land 2.75%
Agriculture: Various grains, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock inc. sheep, goats, cattle, camels, poultry & fish.
Industry: Crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement

Tourism: The British & Foreign Commonwealth Office currently state: - We therefore advise against all but the most essential travel to Yemen. British nationals visiting or resident in Yemen should consider whether their presence is essential and their personal security arrangements adequate.

Natural Hazards: Sandstorms and dust storms in summer, droughts & floods.
Health Risks: Malaria

Climate: Yemen has a hot and dry climate characterised by high humidity along the coastal regions. The mountain regions of the interior have a temperate wet summer and a cool dry winter with the greatest amount of rainfall occurring at high altitudes. Average annual rainfall varies from 20 - 36 inches depending on the region. Average temperature ranges in Aden are from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius in January to 29 to 37 degrees Celsius in July.

Time: GMT/UTC + 3 hours
National Days: May 22

Visas: Everybody needs a visa to enter Yemen. The practice of issuing these at the airport has been suspended. You should therefore contact the Yemeni Embassy, www.yemenembassy.org.uk well in advance of your proposed departure. Travellers with Pakistani or Iranian visas or Israeli stamps in their passports are likely to be subject to long delays on entering the country. Tourist visas generally last one to three months.

British Embassy Details

 

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