Yemen doesn’t usually top the list of the average traveler’s places to visit in a lifetime, but seasoned travelers realize that there usually more than meets the eye in even the lesser known destinations. Towards the eastern section of Yemen you’ll find the small walled-in city of Shibam. The city, now more than 16 centuries old, was once occupied by a mere 7,000 people in 500 joined houses.

Shibam’s Unique Design

The city left a unique mark on the Wadi Hadramawt area of Yemen, with houses made of mud on concrete foundations constructed mostly on the side of a large cliff. Each of the major buildings ranged in height from 5 to around 11 stories, placing each in a unique position. The incredibly tall houses and buildings, combined with their awkward positioning on the side of the cliff, earned Shibam (as a town) the title of the oldest skyscraper in the world. It is also affectionately referred to as the “Manhattan of the Desert.”

Design and building codes in Shibam are simplistic. Any building that is destroyed must, by law, be rebuilt to match the one that existed in its place before it. The laws are so strict, in fact, that homes must be the same height with every single window and door in the exact same position as the original.

Past History of Shibam

The city of Shibam was destroyed twice - once in the 13^th century and once in the 16^th. It was rebuilt in the mid 1500’s and has seen very little architectural change since, for reasons noted. Once situated smack in the middle of a prime spice and incense trade route, Shibam was a very prosperous city with regular visitors from South Arabia and beyond.

Its popularity lasted for only a few centuries, after which it seemed as though Shibam was completely forgotten. Towards the end of the 19^th century Shibam was visited by two English tourists named Mabel and Theodore Bent. They fell in love with the area and were quick to draw attention from the West towards the city and its people.

Over time, many of the residents of Shibam emigrated to other areas and those who stayed behind depended on their family members and loved ones to send money back for their survival. During World War II a crisis in the Hadramaut area brought a stop to the transfer of funds to those still living in the area. Their family members in Java, Singapore, and other areas were no longer able to reach them.

Shibam Today

In the late 1980’s Ali Nasser Mohammed became president of Yemen. He recognized the unique position held by the 100,000 people living in Shibam and took action to protect the area - the city is situated on the pathway to Saudi Arabia. Shibam and Wadi Hadramaut are now listed on Unesco’s World Heritage List and there are now plans in place to ensure for the renovation and preservation of the city.

There is an urgent need to begin repairs immediately. The most important tasks at hand are temporary repairs to the city walls and patches to the Muza dam. If the dams are not repaired, flooding will continue to plague the city and the buildings constructed of mud will be destroyed. The flooding has brought a general dampness to the area, and if it is not controlled there will be no chance of actually saving the city from future ruin.

Even though Shibam’s buildings are archeological anomalies, it’s important to remember that the city is not dead. Families have lived in the area for generations and plan to stay for years to come. The government has asked for help in not only preserving the city itself, but in aiding the people to become more self-sufficient. As of today, inhabitants continue to rely on emigrants sending them food, supplies, and money.

The Future of Shibam

Soon we may see local craft trades, a museum, and a cultural center in the area. While Yemen is not generally a tourist destination, it may become more so in the future, especially once Unesco completes its renovations in the area. Some fear the government will resist opening its arms to an influx of tourists and strangers, but others believe it will help all of the communities in the Wadi Hadramaut area, Shibam included, to flourish. There are quite a few true archaeological sites that have yet to be explored as well.

Until then, casual visitors will have no choice but to marvel at the sheer beauty of the city itself - in both its architecture and resilient social culture.

Image credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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