Al Mukalla

Al Mukalla is in the Yemeni Highlands and is eastern Yemen's biggest city, the gateway to the historical Hadhramaut region. A bustling port, it is well developed by Yemeni standards, with good roads and a reasonably smart waterfront. In 2021, it was home to about 566,000 people.

Understand


Al Mukalla is close to Cane, the ancient Hadrami trading post between India and Africa, with incense producing areas in its hinterland. The city was founded in 1035 as a fishing settlement. While Al Mukalla has fared slightly better during the ongoing Yemeni Civil War, it was held by Al-Qaida between 2015-2016.

By plane
National carrier Yemenia operates a few domestic flights to Mukalla.



See
The old historic city core, located on a small peninsula, has many small alleyways worth exploring.



Do
Nearby are Hadhramaut Mountains, such as Husn Ghuraf.

Sleep




Go next

 * Socotra – an island that is a UNESCO world natural heritage site, and very safe (in contrast to the Yemen mainland)