Republic of Yemen.

The Republic of Yemen is located on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia . It is bordered on the north by Saudi Arabia, on the south by the Arab Sea and the Gulf of Aden, on the east by the Sultanate of Oman and on the west by the Red Sea.

Official name: Republic of Yemen

City of Sana'a: capital of the Republic of Yemen .The Republic of Yemen is administratively divided into (20) governorates in addition to the Capital Secretariat.

National flag: It consists of three colors ranked from top to bottom as follows: (Red- White- Black).

The Emblem of Yemen is represented by a falcon, symbolizing the people's strength and soar in the horizon of freedom, unfolding both wings on the national flag and supported by a base on which the name "The Republic of Yemen" is written with a drawing of Marib Dam and a coffee tree inscribed on it.

Religion and Language: Islam is the religion of the State, and Arabic is the official language.

National Currency: Rial ( Average exchange rate is 169.37 Yemeni rials per US dollar- ( April, 2006)
Universal Timing: GMT +3 hours
Electricity : 220 volts / 50 Hertz
international: country code +967

Outlets into and out of Yemen:

• Air outlets( Sana'a International Airport - Aden International Airport - Taiz Airport - Alhodeidah Airport - Almukala Airport - Seoun Airport)
• Sea Outlets( Aden port - Almakha port - Alhodeidah port - Almukala port - Nashtoon port )
• Land Outlets(Haradh Outlet - Albuka'a Outlet - Elbain Outlets - Shahin Outlet - Serfait Outlet- Alwadeah Outlet)
 

Rule system: rule system is a republican, democratic one with people as the source and owner of the power which they practice directly through referendum and public election. People can also practice power indirectly through the legislative, executive or judicial authorities or through the elected local councils. The political system in the Republic of Yemen is based on multi-party and political. Power-sharing takes place peacefully through the public elections.

Local Authority: the Local Authority represents one form of rule practices in Yemen. This process is achieved through rules and constitutional and legal regulations which are based on the principle of financial and administrative decentralization and expanding the opportunities of participating in making policies, plans and programs and taking decisions as well as partnering the society in taking decisions related to running their daily life and improving their living standards. In addition to observing and supervising the performance of administrative agencies in the different governorates and districts. Republic of Yemen is administratively divided, within the Local Authority, into (21) governorates including the Capital Secretariat and Raimah governorate which was recently formed during 2004. The governorates are divided into (333) districts which are branched into (2099) centers and moreover, ( 37598) villages and ( 68215) localities or neighborhoods.

Population: According to the final results of the general census for the year 2004, the number of population of the Republic of Yemen reached (19.685.161). The population is growing at a rate of (3.0%) per annum, the male population constitute (10.036.953) with the percentage of 50.99% of the total population. The female population constitute (9.648.208) with the percentage of 49.01% of the total population

• The total fertility rate is 6.2% birth/ woman
• Mortality rate among infants less than a year (74.8) infant per 1000 births
• Infant mortality rates 37.3 deaths/1,000 live births
• The average Life expectancy at birth : 62.9 years
• Average Number of Persons Per family : 7.14 and Average no. of persons per dwelling: 6.9 persons

Terrain:
Yemen is characterized by the diversity of aspects of the surface and therefore has been divided into five major geographic regions :
The coastal plain region : It extends sporadically along the coasts of Yemen, where the mountains and hills cut through it to reach directly to the sea waters in more than one place, therefore, the coastal plain region ofYemen comprises the following plains :
(Tehama Plain- Tuban- Abyan plain-Maifa'a Ahwar plain-the Eastern Coastal plain which lies in Almahrah governorate).
The Coastal Plain region is characterized by a hot climate throughout the year with little rainfalls ranging between 50-100 mm per annum . However, it is considered as an important agricultural region, especially Tihama Plain due to the large valleys that penetrate this region, with floods pouring into them thanks to rainfall on the mountainous heights.
The Mountain Highlands Region: This region stretches along the farthest borders of Yemen on the north to the farthest point in the south. This region had undergone many formation movements that resulted in major and minor fractures some of them are parallel with the Red Sea and the other are parallel with Aden Gulf which in turn resulted in the formation of high Plateaus within which some mountainous basins were formed which are called fields or basins.
The region is rich with surface valleys that shape it into sharp sloping block , thus serve as a mountainous wall overlooking Tehama plain with sloping cliffs and peaks. This region's mountains are the highest ones in the Arabian peninsula. The average Height of which reach 2000m and its peaks reach to more than 3500m. The highest peak reaches 3666m in Alnabi Shuaib Mountain.Water dividing line lies within these mountains where water runs down through many valleys on the east, west and south. Some of these main valleys are Mawr, Haradh, Zabeed, Seham and Raisan valleys whose water all pours in the Red Sea. As for the valleys which pour into Aden Gulf and the Arab Sea, the main ones of which are Wadi Tuban, Wadi Bana and Hadramout Wadi.
The Mountainous Basins Region: This region has mountainous plains and basins located in the Mountain Highlands, mostly located in the eastern section of of the water division line which stretches from the farthest north to the farthest south. The main basins are Yareem,Dhamar, Abar,Sana'a , Amran and Sa'ada basins.
The Plateau Areas Region: It lies to the east and north of the Mountain Highlands and it is parallel to them. But it widens more towards the Empty Quarter and begins a gradual decline.The surface slides toward the north and the east mildly. The majority of the surface of this region is formed from rocky desert surface which is cut through by some valleys especially Hadramout and Hareeb valleys.
Desert Region:It is a sandy region almost devoid of flora except in the areas of rainfall courses where rain runs through after descending from mountainous areas adjacent to this region. Height of the surface ranges between 500-1000m above sea level and it slopes without terrainous discontinuity towards the north east to the center of the Empty Quarter.
Climate here is severe with high temperature , scarce rainfall and low humidity.
Yemeni islands : Many islands spread along the Yemen territorial waters . They have their peculiar terrain, climate and environment. Most of these islands lie in the Red Sea of which the most significant ones are : Kamaran which is the largest inhabited island on the Red Sea as well as Hunnish Archipelago and Meon island has a strategic location in Bab Almandab strait, the southern gateway of the Red Sea. Some of the main islands on the Arab Sea are Socotra Archipelago. Socotra island is considered as the largest island in this archipelago which, in addition to Socotra Island is comprised of Samhah, Darsah and Abduljori . It is characterized by multitude of its biodiversity sinccce its plants are estimated at 680 species..

Climate: Yemen overlooks two seas, the Red Sea and the Arab Sea. However, Yemen's climate didn’t benefit a lot from the marine characteristics significantly only in raising the air humidity in the coasts. Influence of these two seas in modifying the republic's climate features is very limited. Rather it is confined to humidity and modifying the wind features while their effect in the air instability is limited. Rain falls in two seasons. The first season during the spring season (March- April) and the second season in the summer (July- August) during which rains fall greater than the spring season. The amount of rainfall varies greatly from a place to a place. The highest amount of annual rainfall is on the south west highlands as in Ibb, Taiz, Aldhale'a and Yareem. The amount of rainfall ranges between 600-1500m annually. The amount of rainfalls in the western coastal plain become less as in Hodeidah, Mokha, despite the exposure to the monsoon south-west from the Indian Ocean crossing the Red Sea as a result of the absence of a factor raising the wind humid However, the average rainfall annual increases with the altitude of 50 mm on the coast to about 100 0 mm on the slopes of the mountains facing the Red Sea.
The same can be said about the country's southern and eastern coasts as has been said about the western coasts regarding the rainfall amounts that reach around 50mm per annual as in Aden, Alfayoush, Alkud and Alrayan. This can be attributed to many factors, the main one of which is that the direction of the humid wind movement runs parallel with the coast without penetrating into the internal parts; therefore, the impact would be very small and hence the rainfall are of no economic significance whatsoever.
As for temperature, the eastern and southern plains has such high temperature degrees that it reaches 42°m and goes down to 25°m. Temperature goes down gradually toward higher elevations because of the height factor to reach 33°m as a maximum and 20°m as a minimum. In winter the lesser temperature on the highlands reaches closer to Zero degree and in Dhamar Governorate, in the winter, the temperature -12°m was recorded in 1986.
As for humidity, it is high on the coastal plains up to more than 80% whereas it goes down toward the internal parts where it reaches its minimum rate in the desert areas around 15%.
Economy: Economic policy : the Republic of Yemen pursued an economic policy based on market mechanisms. and the upgrading of the contribution of the private sector in the economy, and the redefinition of the role of the State in economic activity so that the role of the State is one of corrective and supervisory role, and work to establish the rules of law and institutional construction, and the removal of obstacles facing the private sector, ensuring economic stability and encouraging the private sector to play a leading role in the development process and the achievement of economic growth, through a series of financial, monetary and administrative policies and procedures to support the market mechanism and encourage free trade. The state also worked to re-examine the tax, customs, investment and judicial legislations in order to improve the overall climate for investment. In addition to the implementation of the privatization program designed to expand the areas of economic activities, attract domestic and foreign capital.

Yemen is seen as a promising country with significant natural and economic resources where many of the wealth and riches have not so far been exploited economically, particularly in the area of the various mineral wealth (oil, gas and minerals) in addition to the fish , The average annual growth rate of the Yemeni economy is between (10-18%) at current prices. With the fixed prices this rate reaches to between (2 - 4%) annually. The total GDP of Yemen reached (13.8) billion dollars in 2004. and the average GDP per capita was approximately (650) dollars in the same year.

Agriculture Sector: Arable area in the Republic of Yemen constitutes 3% of the total area of the Republic of Yemen, and the agriculture Sector is considered as the second production sector after the oil and its contribution rate ranges between (10% - 15%) of the value of GDP. The agricultural sector is considered as the economic sector more inclusive for employment since it wide enough for approximately 54% of the total laborforce and a source of income for more than 70% of the population.

Oil: The oil sector is one of the basic production sectors, exploitation of oil resources is focused in a number of governorates of the republic, most notably: (Marib - Shabwa - Hadramawt governorates), this sector contributes with percentage ranging between (30% - 40%) of the value of GDP. It also contributes to more than 70% of the proceeds of the State budget and represents more than 90% of the value of Yemeni exports.

Fish: the fisheries sector represents one of the important sectors in the Yemeni economy due to the fact that Yemen possesses a coastal strip up to 2500 kilometers length stretching across the Red Sea ,Gulf of Aden , the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean with islands and bays scattered on it which contributed to the creation of a suitable environment for fish and aquatic life of more than 350 types .

This very thing enhances the importance of this future promising sector as a major source of food , an important resource for development and boosting the national economy and a major source of jobs.

Industry: Industry represents one of the key components of the national economy and contributes
with the ratio of (10 - 15)% excluding oil industries,
As for the contribution of these industries to the GDP, food industries are ranked the first and then construction industries the main ones are: cement, then tobacco products and metals with the exception of the oil industries which reflects the weak production base and lack of diversity.

Tourism: God the Almighty has singled out Yemen with varied terrain depicting a beautiful and comprehensive picture and natural map its visitor including plains, high mountains, basins and fertile valleys as well as hills, highlands, beaches, desert, and climate with diverse coastal , desert and mountainous characteristics. This land and climate diversity led to cultural diversity included the social habits of people ,their clothing, heritage them popular, In addition to the diversity of antiquarian output of each region resulting from the long period of history and civilization down time; This renders Yemen a unique and peculiar country by virtue of the things it possesses more than many countries.
Tourism in Yemen is a promising sector, since Yemen is the cradle of civilizations and Yemen possesses a variety of varied tourist natural factors of history, ruins, the cultural heritage, and natural fundamentals that make it a tourist landmark. This is evidenced by the diversity of architecture, which makes it provide wonderful architectural models unparalleled in the world. Its possession of a diverse coastal strip is another evidence. There are very magnificent places for recreation and Scuba diving since this beach lies along two seas : the Arab Sea and the Red Sea . Yemen also possesses islands and archipelagos endowed with the nature dazzling features.
The data available on the tourism sector indicate the existence of expansion in tourist facilities, bringing the number of hotels at the end of the year 2004 to (516) Hotel, the one-star hotels represent more than 50% of the total number of hotels and the average tourist nights are (6) nights, and the average tourist expenditure per night is (150) dollars as an average.

Foreign Trade : Yemen's trade exchange with the outside world varies annually depending on the variables taking place every year on both exports and imports and generally the average annual value of exports of Yemen reached (651) billion riyals during the period 2000-2004 oil exports constitute more than 90% of the total exports of Yemen followed by fish and agricultural crops. The average annual value of Yemeni imports during the same period was (543) billion riyals with food imports and transportation vehicles come first on the list of imports Yemen.
One of the most important exporting countries to the Republic of Yemen are : Emirates- Saudi Arabia- China – Kuwait - United States of America.
One of the main importing countries of the Republic of Yemen are : China - India – Singapore - South Korea. The most important commodities exported are : fish – oil - crops, as for the imported goods, the most important ones are : foodstuffs, and transportation vehicles of chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
A table showing exports, imports and trade balance - (million riyals)




Transport sector : The transport sector and its various branches constitute an important component of the infrastructure of the national economy and the mainstay of comprehensive economic and social development, since road network represents the basis of development and its growth, The Yemeni political leadership has given transport considerable attention by linking Yemeni lands with local and international network, since the length of the implemented road network until 2004 was (24061.3 km) (10555.2 km) asphalt roads, (13506.1 km) gravelled roads, The rate of growth of asphalt roads: (62.4%) between the years (2000-2004) and the rate of growth of road during the same period :8,920 (157%).
As for maritime transport the State has sought to develop and expand the Yemeni ports' capacities till Yemen has a number of international ports most importantly: Aden-Hudayyida - Mukalla-Nashtoon, Regarding the fundamentals of air transport , many domestic airports were established and developed to become international airports where the number of international airports reached (6) airports, (Sana'a - Aden-Taiz - Hudayyida-Al-Rayyan - Seoun), This sector contributes to the gross domestic production by a percentage ranging between (10-13)% annually.

Investment: The Yemeni economy is nascent in many areas; Therefore, Yemen surpassed its initial stages in the process of economic and social development and this imposes significant burden especially with regard to the achievement of the infrastructure requirements of the production and service sectors together, during the previous period a number of investments were directed toward infrastructure. However, investment in the Republic of Yemen is facing many of the most fundamental problems: the lack of Yemeni funding resources for the financing process, But, according to the policy, Yemen seeks to encourage and attract domestic and foreign investment to participate in the development process and relying on a legal system characterized by a wide range of advantages and investment incentives to investors.

Free Zone: The Free Zone represents the economic gateway of Yemen and the junction of Asia and Africa. Aden city has been declared as a free trade zone in the year 1991 and a special law was passed on the free zones in the year 1993. The free zone gains strategic importance due to the advantage of the geographical location of the port of Aden being located directly on the main trade route around the world and from the Middle East to Europe and America, it is distinguished by the possibility of providing transit services to Eastern Africa , the Red Sea , the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Gulf. It is also considered as a suitable storage and distribution area for Africa , the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf.


Education : Yemen tended to give education the priority in the process of socio-economic development due to the fact that education is the basis for the development and advancement of any society, and this is remarkable through the expansion of various areas of public, technical, vocational and university education and the education indicators for the year 2004 show the scope of development, which this important sector witnessed through an increase in the number of educational facilities and increase in the number of enrolled students in public, technical, vocational and higher education as the number of schools in basic education reached (10565) governmental school.. The number enrolled students in basic education (public + private) reached (3.955.751) male students constituted (61.31%) while the proportion of females was (38.69%). The number of secondary and mixed school reached (2866), 288 of them are secondary schools and the number enrolled students in secondary education (public + private) reached (588.995) male students constitute (69.78%) while the proportion of females: (30.22%). The number of vocational and technical institutes reached 35 institutes and the number of students in these the technical and vocational institutes reached (6262) students, the ratio of males is (87.38%) while the proportion of females: (14.21%). The number of vocational centers reached 26 centers, The number of students in vocational centers reached (6066) students, with male students representing the proportion of (99.56%) while the females representing the proportion of (0.44%).
As for university education, the number of Yemeni universities reached (21), Universities of which (8) are governmental universities. The total number of students in public universities reached (173.247) students the proportion of males represents (73.40%) while the proportion of females represents (26.60%) ,the number of students in private universities reached (23413) students the proportion of males represents ( 77.46%) while the proportion of females : (22.51%). The proportion of illiteracy among the population of 10 years and above, with males representing 27.3%, while the proportion of illiteracy among females represent 69.1%.

Health : Development Strategy in Yemen is based on paying attention to the aspects of the provision of the necessary health services to the population, Man is the objective and purpose of development, Therefore, health is one of the areas in which the State seeks to give attention to qualitatively and despite the modest resources available to it, the number of hospitals, including rural hospitals reached (172) Hospital in 2004. The number of physicians reached (5282) ratio of doctors is 1 doctor for every (3734) persons of the population and the number of nurses (8882) nurse at a rate (1.7) per doctor during the same year.


Yemeni women's participation in society : Women hold leadership positions in the state's administrative apparatus, besides their work in the judiciary and the diplomatic corps, It is also an active partner in the political decision-making across the government, and is also involved in the activities of civil society institutions, through parties and other political organizations, which means that women in Yemen participate in all aspects of public life.
International observers consider Yemen as one of the distinguished states at the level of the Arabian Peninsula and the Arab World, which granted women the right to vote and participate in the process of registration and voter registration tables, since the rate of women's participation reached (42%) of the total registered voters in the tables. Women have participated since the achievement of unity in the three sessions of election as candidates and voters. They represented People in the Parliament, the local councils, the Shura Council, the ministers, the judiciary, the diplomatic corps and other senior leadership positions.

Yemen has ratified most international conventions that prohibit discrimination against women, Not only has the Yemen preserved women's right in the legislations and laws, but translated into reality through the creation of councils, commissions and departments specialized in Women as a measures to promote women's participation in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects.