Yemen

Yemen(Arabic: al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen (Arabic: al-Jumhuuriyya al-Yamaniyya) is a Middle Eastern country located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia. With a population of more than 20 million people, Yemen is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the North, the Red Sea to the West, the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to the South, and Oman to the east. Yemen’s territory includes over 200 islands, the largest of which is Socotra, about 415 kilometres (259 miles) to the south of Yemen, off the coast of Somalia. Yemen is the only republic on the Arabian Peninsula.

The reputed home of the Queen of Sheba, Yemen has been at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East and Asia for thousands of years thanks to its position on the ancient spice routes. The Romans knew this fertile and wealthy country as Arabia Felix, in contrast to the relatively barren Arabia Desert to the north. And today it maintains its distinct character. The modern Republic of Yemen was born in 1990 when traditionalist North Yemen and Marxist South Yemen merged after years of border wars and skirmishes. But the peace broke down in 1994 and a short civil war ended in defeat for separatist southerners and the survival of the unified Yemen.

Location: Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Capital: Sanaa

Official language: Arabic

Government type:  Republic

President: Ali Abdallah Salih

Prime Minister: Ali Muhammad Mujawwar

National Holiday: Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Area

total: 527 970 km²
land: 527 970 km²
water: 0 km²

Climate: mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east.

Population:  22 230 531 (July 2007)

Currency: Yemeni rial (YER)

Internet domain: .ye

International dialing code: 967

Sources: www.wikipedia.org

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