Welcome to YEMEN
The Yemen College of Middle Eastern Studies is located in the capital city of Sana’a. Above all, the reason to study in Yemen is its people. Not only among the most hospitable on earth, as well as the kindest, they are also proud of their traditional poetry, dress, dance, and crafts. Language learners will also find curious Yemenis willing and even eager to speak Arabic with them.
Located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is one of the most intriguing and beautiful countries in the Arab world. Yemen’s topography is the most varied of any country on the Arabian Peninsula, and northern Yemen is known as the “Roof of Arabia” for its spectacular mountains. The capital of Sana’a sits at the center of the Sana’a basin at an altitude of 2250 meters/7,400 feet. The weather in Sana’a is quite pleasant throughout the year, with the rainy seasons extending from April to June and August to September.
The population of Yemen in 2011 was estimated at 24.1 million people, the majority under the age of 25. Yemen is one of the poorest countries in the Arab world and receives aid from many Western and Gulf countries. Yemen remains underdeveloped and remote, especially in the countryside.
Yemen’s architecture is quite varied from region to region and from city to city. Sana’a, Shibam, and Zabid are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Most Sana’ani houses feature a mafraj (sitting room) on the top floor. Yemenis socialize in the mafraj by talking, listening to music, smoking, and/or chewing qat. Foreigners are often invited to spend time socializing in mafrajs; this is a wonderful way to spend time with locals, make friends, and practice one’s Arabic.