Abdali Sultan’s Palace
Al-Hawtah – seat of the sultanate (1728-1967)
Explore landmarkThe Yemen Guide | Lahj Governorate
It was the centre of the Abdali Sultanate, which ruled for more than two centuries. It lies on the fertile delta of Wadi Tuban north of Aden, distinguished by a unique heritage diversity combining luxurious royal architecture with towering mountain architectural masterpieces.
Lahj’s origins go back to pre-Islamic times, but its real flourishing began with the founding of the Abdali Sultanate in 1728 CE, which made al-Hawtah the capital of a rule that lasted more than 239 years. The sultanate was known for an advanced system of government and wide international relations with Britain and the Ottomans, and was an important commercial and cultural centre. Lahj holds within it the finest of Yemen’s musical arts, represented in the Lahji art founded by the genius poet and musician Ahmad Fadl al-Qumandan, whose melodies still echo in every Yemeni home. In Lahj the antiquity of history meets the beauty of nature, from the luxurious Abdali palaces to the towering fortresses of Yafi.
