Hadhramaut

Hadhramaut is a historical region in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, largely within present-day Yemen. It spans a coastal area along the Gulf of Aden and an inland highland, and it includes the Hadhramaut Governorate. The landscape features arid mountains, deep wadis, and fertile oases sustained by ancient irrigation networks. Notable centers include Seiyun (Say’un), Tarim, Shibam, and the port city of Mukalla.

Historically, the region is named after the ancient Hadhramite people and has been inhabited since antiquity. It formed part of the Sabaean and Himyarite polities and played a significant role in the incense trade that connected the Arabian Peninsula with the Indian Ocean world. The Hadhramaut valley is renowned for its distinctive mud-brick architecture, most famously the tall, multi-story towers of Shibam, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tarim and Seiyun preserve historic urban layouts and caravan-era heritage, while Mukalla has long served as a major coastal port.

The Hadhrami people, or Hadhramis, are the region’s linguistic and cultural group, with a distinctive Arabic dialect and traditional practices. The Hadhrami diaspora is widespread, notable in Southeast Asia (including Indonesia and Malaysia), the Horn of Africa, and the Gulf states. In modern Yemen, Hadhramaut Governorate is part of the national administrative framework; the region has been affected by Yemen’s broader conflicts, but it remains recognized for its cultural heritage and historic towns.

UNESCO recognizes the Historic Town of Shibam for its exceptional example of desert urban planning and architecture, highlighting the region’s long-standing contributions to architecture, science, and commerce in the Arabian Peninsula.