Yemeni Culture

The most important event a foreigner is likely to encounter in Yemen is Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. During this time all Muslims (except children, the sick, the elderly, and other groups as stipulated by the Qur’an) abstain from food, drinking, smoking, and sexual activity during daylight hours. Although non-Muslims are not required to observe the fast, eating, drinking, and smoking around those who do is inconsiderate.
Weddings are joyous occasions in Yemen and one should feel honored if invited. Parties for men and women are almost always held separately, and generally speaking, members of one sex are not invited to the other sex’s ceremonies. Both parties usually consist of an afternoon spent socializing with the bride or groom in their home.

Nearly all Yemenis are Muslims. Estimates suggest that 50-55% of Yemeni Muslims are Shafi’i Sunni, 40-45% are of the Zaydi sect of Shi’a, and 2-5% are of the Ja’fari, Western Isma’ili sect. As a foreign visitor, people will naturally be curious about you and may often inquire about your religious persuasion. Most Yemenis – the vast majority, in fact – will treat you no differently for being a non-Muslim.

Most Yemeni people observe traditional Yemeni gender roles; men are more active in public and commercial spheres, and women in the home and family environment. Relations between men and women, particularly unmarried men and women, are subject to scrutiny throughout Yemen.
A woman’s place in Yemen may appear limited and restrictive to foreigners, but it does offer security: women’s bodies are absolutely sacrosanct and inviolable. However, it is clear that opportunists take advantage of crowded situations and you may wish to take care and be alert when in particularly busy areas of Sana’a. More than hard rules or advice, however, a woman traveling in Yemen is advised to rely on simple common sense, consideration, and awareness of local conditions.

Yemenis are very proud of their cultural traditions. Although Western dress can be spotted on some professional men, the majority of the Yemeni population dresses in traditional style. Dress requirements for men and women are extremely important in Yemen, so it is indispensable that foreigners take as much care as possible when selecting clothes to bring to Yemen, especially women. You will notice immediately that virtually all women in Sana’a are covered by the long and formless baltu or sharshaf, which leaves no part of the body visible to the eye. Foreign women are not expected to dress in this manner, but they should be prepared to act and dress in a reserved and conservative manner while in public. Men are expected to wear either pants or jeans, without holes, and shorts should be avoided.

Yemeni food and eating customs vary from region to region. Generally speaking, however, the noontime meal is the largest and most important of the day. Breakfasts and dinners tend to be smaller and less elaborate than the typical lunch. In most major cities, you will find Yemeni, Arab, and a few foreign-style restaurants at different levels of price and quality. Before sitting down at a table, it is customary in Yemen to first wash your hands and one always eats with the right hand. The same table manners you would practice at home are generally applicable in Yemen as well.

Qat is an evergreen plant originally from East Africa. The chewer puts qat leaves in his/her mouth and chews them slowly for hours, alternately sucking the liquid out of the qat and sipping a beverage (usually one that is quite sweet, like soda.) Qat has a negative effect on the kidneys and liver. Qat is also considered to have a negative effect on the Yemeni economy and family life. There are certain benefits for a foreign student who chooses to chew qat while in Yemen. Since qat chews are the most prevalent social activity in Yemen, it helps a student infiltrate many circles of Yemeni life. Whatever one’s position on qat in Yemeni society, its presence is undeniably pervasive and impossible to ignore.