Yemen Country Information
Currency
The Yemeni unit of currency is the Riyal. The exchange
rate is currently (January 2006) 195 Yemeni Riyals to one
U.S. dollar, which means that one YR is less than one U.S.
cent. Within Yemen, the YR may be freely converted into
U.S. dollars and vice versa.
Language and Religion
The official language is Arabic and the vast majority of
the people are Muslims. In the major cities, some English
is spoken.
Weather
Yemen's coasts are warm and humid year round. The mountainous
highlands of the north can be quite cool, especially in
the winter months. It is not unheard for temperatures to
fall below freezing. Yemen's mountainous areas also receive
significant amounts of rain twice a year. Yemen's eastern
desert areas are hot and dry during the day and cool at
night.
Education
The Ministry of Education is responsible for all K-12 educational
programs in country. The Ministry of Higher Education supervises
academic tertiary programs, while the Ministry of Vocational
Training provides oversight to community colleges and other
technical programs not affiliated with the Ministry of Health
and Population. More detail is provided on the Educational
System in Yemen.
Shopping
Sana'a's Old City offers visitors the opportunity to visit
the most traditional suq (bazaar) in the Middle East. The
suq boasts an array of traditional Yemeni products-such
as jambiyyas (daggers), Jewish-designed silver jewelry,
and other handicrafts-as well as fascinating architectural
sights. Modern shopping areas and restaurants are found
just outside the Old City, especially along Hadda and Zubeiri
Streets.
Outside of Sana'a, shopping opportunities are limited.
A few exceptions include the suq in Taiz and select tourist
stores in the governorate (province) of Hadramaut. In the
future, the port city of Aden plans to open a duty free
shopping area, similar to what exists in Dubai. At all locales,
bargaining is encouraged.
Sightseeing
Yemen is perhaps the richest country in the Middle East
in historical and natural sights. A mountainous country
with ancient villages and vast sea coasts, Yemen offers
something for almost every visitor. Highlights include:
- Sana'a's Old City
- Wadi Dahr and the Imam's Rock Palace
- Fortress village of Kawkaban
- Terraced mountains and villages of the regions of Ibb,
Al-Mahwit, and Manakhah
- Tihamese town of Zabid
- Beaches and colonial port of Aden
- Al- Amariya Mosque in Rada'a
Transportation
Both private and shared transport is plentiful throughout
Yemen, generally for reasonable fees ranging from YR10 for
a shared mini-bus to YR10,000 for a private taxi between
two cities. As with every other purchase, bargaining is
important when arranging private transportation. Fees are
fixed for shared transit.
Important Links
Yemen Observer: www.yobserver.com
Yemen Times: www.yementimes.com
Teleyemen: www.y.net.ye
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