Yemen Culture

The Yemeni culture is an amalgamation of the socially conservative Islamic ideals with local Arab character and deep tribal traditions. They are very proud of their cultural traditions and eager to share them with foreign guests. As guests in this country, students witness extreme generosity from their Yemeni hosts and are often taken aback by their hospitality.

Though Yemen has many modern amenities, travel to the villages can seem a bit like stepping back in time. Many rural areas in Yemen are agricultural and traditional farming techniques are still widely used.

The northern cities, especially Sana'a, have adopted a more conservative approach to Islamic practices. The southern cities have remained more liberal, though with reunification in the 1990s the North has pressured some groups in the South to adopt similar Islamic standards.