Hadhramout is the largest territory in Yemen with diverse relief divided into coastal plains comprising many enchanting beaches on the Arabian Sea, mountains and hills reaching 2000m above sea level and extensive areas of the Empty Quarter.

There are also many wadies, the biggest of which is Wadi Hadhramout and its many tributaries. Wadi Hadhramout runs nearly 165 km into Saihout in Mahara. Hadhramout lies in the southeast of Yemen bordered by Mahara on the east and Shabwa on the west. It extends northwards deep into the Empty Quarter with its southern coasts overlooking the Arabian Sea and is 777 km away from Sana'a, accessible by a paved road via Marib and Attaq to Mukalla.

Historical Traditions

Hadhramout in Heritage Books is A'ad ad Ahqaf in the Holy Koran – the place which God bestowed with prophets Hood and Saleh (Peace upon them).According to enealogists, it was named Hadhramout after it became the home of Amir Bin Qahtan.

Hadhramout in the ancient history of Yemen is one of the ancient Yemenite states whose prosperity at the onset of the first millennium BC was on the Valley Banks between the chains of Mountain and the desert of the Empty Quarter in the east of Yemen. Through the ancient Yemenite inscriptions discovered till date, it is possible to say that Hadhramout in its ancient times was a vassal state of the Sabean Dynasty which was the biggest and most powerful ancient State in Southern Arabia. During a consequent period, Hadhramout Dynasty became an ally of Sheba.

Hadhramout was in possession of the land that used to grow Ollibanum in its eastern and eastern most parts like Dhofar (Currently in Oman) and dominated the north towards the Empty Quarter till Al Abr. In addition to its original location in Wadi Hadhramout, it controlled the Hadramite Coasts overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Ollibanum at the time was of extreme importance and expensive sought after commodity and was much sought after at the capitals of the ancient world used for many purpose like religious rites, funerals, presents and the honorary occasions including medical purposes at times. The procedures of Ollibanum care was so much surrounded with strange legends and the ancient port of Qana on the coast of Southern Arabia, one of the reasons for the flourishing of Hadhramout.

Tareem City (Known as AL-Ghanaa) Shibam Hadrami Businessmen

The migration of Hadramis recently to the Middle East has been a great impact to the development of the area, and has tremendous contribution of what is seen today as 'the wealthy face' of the Middle East.

As in all the places that their feet landed on, they have proved to be hard working and intend to develop the community around them.And here are some of the names of Hadramis who have changed the face of the business in the area like Salem bin Mahfouz who has built one of the strongest economic foundation in Saudi Arabia, from the same family comes the famous name Khalid bin Mahfouz who has personal net worth of $3.2 billion the area. And from the Wadi of Hadhramout the name of Bin Laden family comes, Mohammed Bin Laden who migrated to Saudi Arabia before World War 1, the poor uneducated person, the self-billionaire builder who started his construction business and eventually achieved such success that his family became known as “the wealthiest nonroyal family in the Kingdom.

Another name is Bakshib who constructed the University of King Abdulla Aziz, which is one of the best universities in the area. One of the big names who has recently come back home with many investments and projects exceeding $300 million, the name that helped his people by providing many jobs, charity and better place for all. This name is Sheikh Abdullah Ahmed Bugshan, from the business family (school) of Bugshan. We hope that many other businessmen will return home and take the steps of Sheikh Abdullah Ahmed Bugshan that will pave the way towards building Yemen as a country.

Mohammed Saleh Akkar,

BCA

With inputs from Omer Barshed