Historic City of Zabid
Tihama plain – south of Al-Hudaydah
Explore landmarkThe Yemen Guide | Al-Hudaydah Governorate
Where the golden plains of Tihama meet the blue of the Red Sea, Al-Hudaydah stands tall with a civilisation whose roots reach back to the early centuries of Islam. Zabid, the city of learning that lit the world with its schools; the port of Al-Hudaydah linking Yemen to the world; and the islands of Kamaran holding history’s secrets in their embrace.
Al-Hudaydah Governorate is one of the most important coastal cities of Yemen, stretching across the fertile Tihama plain for more than 300 kilometres along the Red Sea. The city of Zabid was founded in the early Islamic centuries as the capital of the Ziyadid state, then became a beacon of learning in the Islamic world, graduating hundreds of scholars in hadith, jurisprudence and language. Al-Hudaydah enjoys unique geographical diversity: fertile coastal plains, seasonal valleys such as Wadi Sirdab, coral islands such as Kamaran, and mangrove forests along the coast. It also boasts distinguished architectural heritage in Zabid and al-Luhayyah. Economically, ports such as Al-Hudaydah and Salif form Yemen’s lifeline, supporting international trade and goods.
