GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Yemen.
Capital
Sana’a.
Economic and commercial capital: Aden.
Geography
As a country located in Middle East according to collegesanduniversitiesinusa, Yemen borders Saudi Arabia to the north, Oman to the east and the Gulf of Aden to the south, and the Red Sea to the west. The islands of Perim and Kamaran in the Red Sea and Socotra in the Indian Ocean also belong to Yemen. The country is predominantly mountainous and rises in stages up to almost 4000 m. The Hadramaut is a mountain range on the coast. The high plateau in the interior rises steeply from approx. 200 m to 4000 m, the highest peak is Jabal Nabi Shoveb. The Tihama, between 50 km and 100 km wide, is a flat semi-desert on the west coast. Agriculture is practiced in the valleys, and cotton and grain are grown. In the east the mountains drop down to the Arabian desert Rub al-Khali.
Government
Islamic presidential republic since 1991. New constitution from 2001. Parliament with 301 members.
Head of state
Saleh al-Sammad (President of the Supreme Council), since August 2016.
Head of government
Abdul Aziz Bin Habtour, since October 2016.
Electricity
220 V, 50-60 Hz.
Time zone
Arabia Standard Time: CET +4
MONEY
Currency
1 Yemen riyal = 100 fils. Currency abbreviations: RI, Y.RI, YER (ISO code). Banknotes are available in denominations of 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20 YER; Coins are in circulation in denominations of 20, 10 and 5 YER.
Credit cards
The most common credit cards are accepted in large hotels and tourist centers, payment in US $ is a better rate than in Rial. Details from the issuer of the credit card in question.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
Attention: Travelers who pay with their bank card abroad and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
ATMs are located in banks (e.g. Arab Bank) and tourist centers, these can be used with cards that have the Maestro symbol.
Bank opening times
Sa-Wed 8.30 a.m.-12 p.m., Thu 8 a.m.-11.30 a.m. Exchange offices also open on Fridays.
Foreign exchange regulations
The import and export of the local currency is prohibited. There is no limit to the number of foreign currencies that can be imported, amounts must be declared for amounts above US $ 3,000. Unlimited export of foreign currencies, but may not exceed the amount declared upon entry.
Currency Exchange
US dollars or euros are recommended to change in the country. Only small sums of money should be exchanged, as it is difficult to change the local currency back. You should bring enough cash with you, preferably US dollars.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Arabic. English is sometimes spoken in cities.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
English is spoken in business circles. Appointments are usually made and punctuality is important. Khat is also often chewed during business meetings.
Business hours: Mon-Wed 8 a.m.-12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m. and Thu 8 a.m.-11 a.m.
Authorities: Sun-Thu 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Economy
Trade Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
Budapester Str. 37, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 897 30 50.
Internet: www.botschaft-jemen.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
General Investment Authority
PO Box 19022, YE-Sana’a
Tel: (01) 26 29 62.
Internet: www.giay.org
Business contacts
Trade Department of the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen
Budapester Str. 37, D-10787 Berlin
Tel: (030) 897 30 50.
Internet: www.botschaft-jemen.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
General Investment Authority
PO Box 19022, YE-Sana’a
Tel: (01) 26 29 62.
Internet: www.giay.org
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing.
Cellphone
GSM 900. The main provider is the Yemen Mobile Phone Company ‘Sabafon’.
Internet
Main provider: TeleYemen (Internet: www.y.net.ye). There are internet cafes in the larger cities.
Post Office
Airmail from Sana’a to Europe takes 4 days, from other cities it takes longer. Opening times: Sa-Thu 8 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
CULTURE
Religion
Islam (majority: Sunnis, some Zaidi). Small Christian and Hindu minority.
Social rules of conduct
Traditional values are still an important part of everyday life, and visitors are greeted with traditional courtesy and hospitality. In the north, rifles are carried over the shoulder and complement the traditional jambia. In the cities women are veiled with black or colored scarves, in the villages you don’t see this much. Many residents chew khat, leaves from a native shrub that have narcotic effects. They are chewed in markets and cafes, but mostly sitting on cushions in the so-called Mafrai, at the top under the roof of a multi-story house, where social life takes place. Visitors should wear restrained everyday clothing, business people are expected to wear suits. Men should wear jackets and ties at social events and in good restaurants. In public, women should cover up as much as possible. Swimwear and shorts should only be worn around the swimming pool. Smoking is prohibited during the fasting month of Ramadan. (More information in the Islam chapter in the appendix.) Tip: Waiters and taxi drivers expect 10-15%.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +967 Area (square km) 527 968 Population 26731 317 Population density (per square km) 51 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 191
