Sana'a
Encyclopedia
Districts
- Al Wahdah DistrictAl Wahdah DistrictAl Wahdah District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 99,956 inhabitants....
- As Sabain DistrictAs Sabain DistrictAs Sabain District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 311,203 inhabitants....
- Assafi'yah DistrictAssafi'yah DistrictAssafi'yah District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 109,109 inhabitants....
- At Tahrir DistrictAt Tahrir DistrictAt Tahrir District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 66,898 inhabitants....
- Ath'thaorah DistrictAth'thaorah DistrictAth'thaorah District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 170,145 inhabitants....
- Az'zal DistrictAz'zal DistrictAz'zal District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 115,054 inhabitants....
- Bani Al Harith DistrictBani Al Harith DistrictBani Al Harith District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 184,509 inhabitants....
- Ma'ain DistrictMa'ain DistrictMa'ain District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 265,269 inhabitants....
- Old City DistrictOld City DistrictOld City District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 63,398 inhabitants....
- Shu'aub DistrictShu'aub DistrictShu'aub District is a district of the Amanat Al Asimah Governorate, Yemen. As of 2003, the district had a population of 213,939 inhabitants....
Old City
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by the United Nations in 1986. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings, some of which, such the Samsarh and the Great Mosque of Sana'a
Great Mosque of Sana'a
Great Mosque of Sana'a is an ancient mosque in Sana'a, Yemen, just east of the old Ghumdan Palace. It dates to the 7th century and was reportedly built in part from the materials of the initial Ghumdan palace which was destroyed by Caliph Uthman because he feared it could be used as a stronghold...
, are more than 1400 years old. Surrounded by ancient clay walls which stand 9–14 m (29.5–45.9 ft) high, the old city contains more than 100 mosques, 12 hammams (baths) and 6,500 houses. Many of the houses resemble ancient skyscrapers, reaching several stories high and topped with flat roofs. They are decorated with elaborate friezes and intricately carved frames and stained-glass windows.
One of the most popular attractions is Suq al-Milh (Salt Market), where it is possible to buy not only salt but also bread, spices, raisins, cotton, copper, pottery, silverware, and antiques. The majestic 7th-century Jami' al-Kabir (Great Mosque) is one of the oldest in the Muslim world. The Bāb al-Yaman (Yemen Gate) is an iconized entry point through the city walls and is more than 1000 years old. Nearby is Tahreer Square, also known as Freedom Square or Change Square, which has been the site of protests
2011 Yemeni uprising
The 2011 Yemen Uprising followed the initial stages of the Tunisian Revolution and occurred simultaneously with the Egyptian Revolution and other mass protests in the Middle East in early 2011. In its early phase, protests in Yemen were initially against unemployment, economic conditions and...
and where Nobel Peace Prize winner Tawakel Karman
Tawakel Karman
Tawakel Karman became the international public face of the 2011 Yemeni uprising that is part of the Arab Spring uprisings...
has been camped in a tent throughout the Arab Spring
Arab Spring
The Arab Spring , otherwise known as the Arab Awakening, is a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world that began on Saturday, 18 December 2010...
movement.
A commercial area of the old city is Al Madina, where development is proceeding rapidly. In addition to three large hotels, there are numerous stores and restaurants. The area also contains three parks and the President
Ali Abdullah Saleh
Field Marshal Ali Abdullah Saleh is the first President of the Republic of Yemen. Saleh previously served as President of the Yemen Arab Republic from 1978 until 1990, at which time he assumed the office of chairman of the Presidential Council of a post-unification Yemen. He is the...
's palace.
Arab Cultural Capital
Sana'a was designated as the Arab Cultural CapitalArab Cultural Capital
The Arab Capital of Culture is an initiative taken by the Arab League under the UNESCO Cultural Capitals Program to promote and celebrate Arab culture and encourage cooperation in the Arab region.-Cultural Capitals:- Endnotes :-External links:****...
for the year of 2004.
Demographic evolution
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Sana'a is the fastest growing capital city in the world with a growth rate of 7%, while the growth rate of the nation as a whole is 3.2%. If the current rate is maintained, the population of Sana'a will double in ten years. The majority of this increase is due to rural to urban migration for employment.
Jewish community
Jews have been present in Yemen since the days of King Solomon and form one of the most historic Jewish diasporaJewish diaspora
The Jewish diaspora is the English term used to describe the Galut גלות , or 'exile', of the Jews from the region of the Kingdom of Judah and Roman Iudaea and later emigration from wider Eretz Israel....
s. After the creation of the state of Israel about 49,000 (of an estimated 51,000) of Yemeni Jews were airlifted to Israel, almost 10,000 of which were from Sana'a (see the English-language book Jews and Muslims in lower Yemen: a study in protection and restraint, 1918-1949). There was essentially no Jewish population in Sana'a until the Sa'dah insurgency
Sa'dah insurgency
The Shia Insurgency in Yemen, also known as the Houthi rebellion, Sa'dah War or Sa'dah conflict is a civil war in Northern Yemen. It began in June 2004 when dissident cleric Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, head of the Shia Zaidiyyah sect, launched an uprising against the Yemeni government...
broke out in Saada Governorate in 2004. The Houthi
Houthis
The Houthis Houthis) are a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as a "powerful clan," and by the title Ash-Shabab al-Muminin or Youthful Believers). The group takes its name from Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, their former commander, who was reportedly...
rebels directly threatened the Jewish community in 2007, prompting the government of President Saleh to offer them refuge in Sana'a. As of 2010, there were around 70 Jews living in the capital under government protection.
Economy
As the capital city of Yemen, 40% of jobs in Sana'a are in the public sector. Other primary sources of formal employment in the city are trade and industry. Like many other cities in the developing world, Sana'a has a large informal sector which is estimated to constitute 32% of nongovernmental employment.However, while there are a greater variety of jobs in Sana'a as compared to other cities in Yemen, there is also greater poverty and unemployment. It is estimated that 25% of the labor force in Sana'a is unemployed.
Transport
YemeniaYemenia
Yemenia , also known as Yemen Airways is the national airline of Yemen, based in Sana'a. It operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights to destinations in Africa and the Middle East, as well as to Asia and Europe, out of its hubs at Sana'a International Airport, and Aden...
, the national airline of Yemen, has its head office in Sana'a. Sana'a International Airport
Sana'a International Airport
Sana'a International Airport or El Rahaba Airport is an international airport located in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. The runway is shared with a large military base with several fighter jets and transport aircraft of the Yemeni Air Force.-Airlines and destinations:*Note: All flights operate...
is Yemen's main domestic and international airport. There is currently no rail network but there are plans to install one in the future. A primary means of transport in the city is via dababs, minibuses which carry about 10 people. Taxis are also a very common form of public transport and there are coaches to major cities such as Aden
Aden
Aden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
and Taiz.
Quotes and impressions
"" (Sana'a must be seen) are famous words first attributed to (768-820) who visited the ancient capital several times.Many travellers in ancient days were impressed by the beauty of Sana'a. The well-known Yemeni geographer and historian al Hamdani marveled at the cleanliness of the city:
The Persian traveller Ibn Rustah, a contemporary of al-Hamdani, noted its food:
Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban is a British travel writer and novelist. He has received several awards, such as the National Book Critics Circle Award, The Royal Society of Literature's Heinemann Award, the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, the PEN West Creative Nonfiction Award, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers...
devotes a chapter of his 1979 book, 'Arabia Through the Looking Glass' to Sana'a. He initially found the city disorienting:
Later, as he became more familiar with the place, and had made more acquaintances with its residents, he becomes admiring. In one striking sequence where he is invited onto the roof of somebody's home, the cityscape is revealed to him in a different way:
Climate
Sana'a features the very rare mild version of a desert climateDesert climate
A desert climate , also known as an arid climate, is a climate that does not meet the criteria to be classified as a polar climate, and in which precipitation is too low to sustain any vegetation at all, or at most a very scanty scrub.An area that features this climate usually experiences less than...
. Sana'a sees on average approximately 200 mm of precipitation per year. However, due to its high elevation, temperatures are much more moderate than many other cities on the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. In fact, average temperatures remain relatively constant throughout the year in Sana'a, with its coldest month being January and its warmest month in July. The city seldom experiences extreme heat or cold. However, some areas around the city can see temperatures fall to around 15 or 20 degrees Fahrenheit during winter. Frost usually occurs in the early winter mornings, and there is a slight wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
in the city that causes the cold mornings to be oddly bitter. The Sun warms the city to the 60s during the noontime but it drops drastically as night falls in. Sana'a receives half of its annual rainfall during the months of July and August. Rainfall comes depending on the year; some years could see 500–600 mm of rainfall, while others can barely get 150 mm. High temperatures have increased slightly during the summer over the past few years, however, low temperatures and winter temperatures have dramatically fallen over the same period
Sport
The city is home to the Ali Muhesen StadiumAli Muhesen Stadium
Ali Muhesen Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in San‘a’, Yemen. It is currently used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Al-Ahli. The stadium holds 25,000 people....
, home of the Yemen national football team
Yemen national football team
The Yemen national football team , is the national team of Yemen and is controlled by the Yemen Football Association.When the nation was split into North Yemen and South Yemen before 1990, two national teams existed. After unification, the Yemen national football team is considered the successor of...
, and is mostly used for football and cricket matches. The stadium holds 25,000 people.
Although Yemen was the host nation of the Gulf Cup of Nations
Gulf Cup of Nations
The Gulf Cup of Nations , also known as Khaleeji followed by the edition of the games , is a football tournament currently held every two years rotating the host city every edition...
in 2010, Sana'a was not a host city. The games were held rather in the Aden and Abyan governates.
See also
- Mahwa AserMahwa AserMahwa Aser is a slum community in San‘a’, the capital city of Yemen. Mahwa Aser is home to an estimated 17,000 people who live in informal housing without access to sanitation. The poor living conditions in the slum have a serious negative impact on the health of residents...
- Al Khair MosqueAl Khair Mosque, Sana'aThe Al Khair Mosque is a large mosque in Sana'a, Yemen.According to the Yemen Timesthe mosque is associated with Islamic scholar Moqbil Bin Hadi Al-Wade....
- Sana'a manuscriptsSana'a manuscriptsThe Sana'a manuscripts, found in Yemen in 1972, are considered by some to be the oldest existent version of the Qur'an. Although the text has been dated to the first two decades of the eighth century The Sana'a manuscripts, found in Yemen in 1972, are considered by some to be the oldest existent...
– fragments from over 1000 early Qur'an codices, discovered at the Great Mosque in Sana'a in 1972. - Saleh MosqueSaleh MosqueThe Saleh Mosque or Al Saleh Mosque is the largest and most modern mosque in Sana'a, Yemen. It lies in southern outskirts of the city, south of the Al Sabeen Maternal Hospital at the junction of the 45 meters and 70 meters roads. Inaugurated in November 2008, it is named after Yemeni President Ali...
- 2011 Yemeni protests
External links
- "The Old Walled City of San`a", 113 page book by Ronald Lewcock for UnescoUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
- "Sana'a - City of lights. The German-French Cultural Project 2007. Weblog"
- Eric Hansen, Sana'a rising, Saudi Aramco World, 2006. Vol. 57 No. 1
- Tim Mackintosh-SmithTim Mackintosh-SmithTim Mackintosh-Smith is a British, Yemen-based, Oxford-educated Arabist, writer, traveller and lecturer.Mackintosh-Smith lives in an ancient tower house off the "Market of the Cows" in the old city of San'a, Yemen. He is the author of the Yemen: Travels in Dictionaryland and Yemen: The Unknown...
, The Secret Gardens of Sana'a. Saudi Aramco World, 2006 Vol. 57 No. 1 - Traditional housing in the old quarter of Sanaa in 1972