Yemen
North Yemen is an almost perfect picture of medieval Arab life. It has a long history, buildings are ancient, unique and spectacular, the people are fierce but friendly, and social habits are curious. But until a few years ago tourists were not allowed to travel in this extraordinary country. Tourist dollars were the easiest and fastest way to replace the lost income. So, with the end of the Gulf War came the beginning of foreign travel. Although the infrastructure for tourism is not well developed, the attractions are clear. The most dramatic feature of the the country today, especially in and around the capital of Sana’a, is the buildings. Sana’a, 2,300m above sea level, is considered to be architecturally unique and has received $224m from UNESCO for its preservation. Many houses are over 400 years old, and most are built in the style of 1,000 years ago.
Qat is an another unique feature of the country. A narcotic bush, cousin to the coca plant in South America from which cocaine is produced, qat is chewed in some other countries, but not to the same degree as in Yemen. The whole country seems to be fueled by this legal drug, with 90% of the population chewing it for up to 5 hours a day. Afternoon or evening qat parties are a part of daily life where groups of men, or women - but not both together - gather on the top floor of a house, or in a cafe, or their workplace; they lean on cushions, drink cola, smoke, chat and chew the qat.
Related Travel Information
Bahrain
Bahrain is a small island in the Persian Gulf (or the Arabic Gulf, as the Arabs call it). It is linked to its big neighbor Saudi Arabia by a bridge and separated by a small strait from Qatar. The population is, like in neighboring Iran in large majority Shia Muslim. Less than 270 square miles in size, Bahrain is one of the most densely populated island countries in the world. Approximately 140,000 people reside in the capital city of Manama. Arabic is the official language, but many citizens also speak English. Bahrain is sometimes referred to as the Switzerland
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia occupies four-fifths of the Arabian peninsula. Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, the Gulf of Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen border it. Today’s Saudi Arabia is still a land of mystery largely due to its fundamentalist Islam state form and its rigid admission policy. Saudi Arabia is incredibly difficult to visit, there's no tourist visa in this country. Best way to get in is by invitation of a Saudi person or company, or, if you’re a Muslim, on a pilgrimage to one of the holy cities.
The region also includes the city of Jeddah, until
Qatar
Qatar is a small peninsula in the Persian Gulf. It looks like a big thumb 'way up'.
The country is small but offers quite a few interesting things to the visitors. Doha, the capital is a nice town with good beaches nearby and lively markets.
Khor Al Udeid, or the Inland Sea, in the extreme south-east of the country is of great natural beauty. This is a large area of natural sand dunes, surrounding a calm inlet of the Gulf. The dunes are quite stunning - tall, shapely sand masses formed by the prevailing winds and subject to radical
Oman
Situated on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, the Sultanate of Oman is bordered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the West, and the Republic of Yemen to the South. The United Arab Emirates lies on the North West, and to the East lies the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. The land area is 309,500 sq. kms.
Since the discovery of massive oil deposits, Oman has seen spectacular economic growth and modernization. The country has kept faithful to its Islamic traditions, however.
Even so, Oman has managed to create a relative open society, more open
Iran Travel Guide
Iran has a rich culture and, it remains widely misrepresented and little understood by the general public. It is a great country to travel, with efficient public transport, old cities packed with sights, ruins from ancient Persian and Caspian Sea beach resorts. Iran is a country with great ancient sights, rich culture, splendid cuisine and a very hospitable people. Despite the political winds this is a great country to visit.
Iran is located in the Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan. Slightly larger than Alaska
