Study in Yemen -LIVING in yemen

Transportation

Taxis & Service Taxis

Service taxis also have designated routes, but no timetable; the driver waits until the vehicle is full before leaving. These taxis are painted white with horizontal stripes and a large circle painted on the front door, often giving the route in Arabic. In the larger cities, private taxis are also available; the price should be negotiated before you begin your trip.

Buses

Public transport in the northern cities is well-served by the dhabar, black-striped mini-buses, which have designated routes but somewhat erratic timetables and pick up passengers as they go along the streets.

A decent network of Asphalt, and dirt roads links all major and secondary cities. Public and private companies provide fist-class daily coach services between major cites. Taxi stations also provide their services around the clock. Prices are very low. In southern cities, buses are blue and have more regular schedules.

Car Rental

There are many travel and tourist agencies operating under license from the local authorities. They organize tours around the country they also provide tour guides speaking different languages, and rent out cares for those interested. If you wish to hire a car, it is usual to hire the driver as well.

Social scene

San'a

If you believe the Yemenis, San'a is one of the first sites of human settlement, founded by Noah's son, Shem. Other sources suggest the city has been around since at least the 2nd century AD, and up until 1962 the city still nestled within its ancient walls, surrounded by green fields.

These days, San'a is a sprawling city of over a million people, but the walls still stand - many houses in the Old City are over 400 years old, and the area within the walls is the largest preserved medina in the Arab world. Everywhere you go you'll see facades ornamented with elaborate friezes, and beautiful takhrim windows with their delicate fretworking and coloured panes. Mosque minarets rise above the tower houses, and the city is sprinkled with bathhouses, some dating from the Ottoman occupation of Yemen. The central market, Souq al-Milh, is a collection of around 40 small souqs, each specialising in one product - you'll find vegetables, spices, qat, raisins, pottery, clothes, woodwork, copper and silver. In the Jambiya Souq you can watch craftsmen making complex ceremonial weapons.

If you're a Muslim, you should visit Al-Jami' al-Kabir, the great mosque on the western side of Souq al-Milh. The mosque, which is closed to non-Muslims, was built around 630AD, when Mohammed was still alive.The city's National Museum lives in the House of Good Luck, a former royal palace built in the 1930s. Its five floors have displays on the ancient kingdoms of Yemen (including Saba), the country's Islamic history and its modern folk culture. The Museum for Arts & Crafts, also in an old palace, specialises in artefacts from everyday Yemeni life, while the surprisingly good Military Museum has the low-down on the country's many wars.

You'll have no trouble finding a cheap hotel in San'a, but you may have trouble finding one you want to stay in. If you're prepared to pay a bit, you can stay in one of the city's converted tower houses. There are plenty of small restaurants scattered around the city, with the best conglomeration around Bab al-Yaman.

Ma'rib

Once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Saba, Ma'rib is the most stunning archaeological site in Yemen. In the 8th century BC a 16m (52ft) high dam was built here, and for over 1000 years the lake it created irrigated fields which sustained around 50,000 people. In the 2nd century AD the empire fell, and over the next few hundred years the dam collapsed and Ma'rib became an inconsequential village. When oil was discoverd here in 1986 the town was revitalised, and it's now a bustling place. Time has not been particularly charitable to the ruins of Ma'rib, but there's still plenty to see. Although most of the old village has been destroyed, you can still see some impressive small-windowed mud buildings, and occasionally you'll find one with ancient Sabaean inscriptions in its stone cellar. Nearby are the remnants of some remarkable temples, including the Temple of Bilqis, built around 400BC. There's not a lot left, but you can still see the remnants of the Great Dam of Ma'rib, and if you walk a few miles upstream you'll reach the imaginatively-titled New Dam of Ma'rib, more than twice as high as the old one. Ma'rib is about 100km (60mi) east of San'a - buses travel there twice a day from the capital. There are very few places to stay or eat in Ma'rib.

Aden

Economic and commercial capital of Yemen, an ancient city that has witnessed many important historical events. Aden is the most important natural port on the Indian Ocean.

Hadramout

Origin of the civilization of Yemen – it's rich in historical landmarks and ancient architecture. The following are cities in the Hadramout area; Mukalla is Hadramout's capital and largest city, Shahr is a commercial and industrial city, Siaon is the largest city in the valley of Hadramawt, Shibam is considered one of the tourist cities.

Ibb

A county located south of the capital Sanaa.

Taiz

Considered as one of the major cities in Yemen, which has played an important role throughout the history of Yemen in the early stages the ancient, Islamic and contemporary era.

Hodeidah

One of Yemen's largest cities and the most popular ports on the Red Sea

Yemeni islands

Yemen has many islands and has a topography and climate - most of these islands are located in the Red Sea, including: Kamran Island - the largest island in the Red Sea and Archipel and Meon island has a strategic location in the Strait of Bab el Mandeb. One of the main islands in the Arabian Sea is Socotra. Socotra Island is the largest island.

Accommodation

Institution Accommodation Facilities

Most of the institutes have segregated, conveniently located and cost-effective accommodation facilities. The accommodation fees vary from institute to institute.

Private Rental Market

Many furnished and unfurnished apartments are available throughout the Republic of Yemen. When you rent a unit in a private building you will have to sign a rental agreement or lease that specifies your rights and responsibilities and those of the property owner and his agent.