Yemen

At a Glance

Yemen is one of the oldest civilisations in the Arab world, with the ancient walled city of Sana'a, the extraordinary mud skyscrapers of Shibam, the spice markets of the interior, and the island of Socotra with its uniquely strange Dragon Blood trees. The culture is Arab and tribal, with a tradition of poetry, architecture, and coffee culture that predates almost everything familiar in the region. The country is currently inaccessible for most travellers, but its heritage is extraordinary and worth knowing.

• Home to ancient multi-storey mud-brick skyscrapers built before concrete was invented.
• The world's worst humanitarian crisis for several consecutive years.
• Coffee was first cultivated here — 'mocha' is a Yemeni port city, not a Starbucks invention.