Aden

Aden
عَدَنْ
𐩲𐩵𐩬
Malla District
Port of Aden
Queen Victoria Statue
Crater District
Clockwise from top: Malla District, Queen Victoria Statue, Abyan Beach, Cisterns of Tawila, Crater District, Port of Aden
Aden map
Aden map
Aden is located in Yemen
Aden
Aden
Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 12°48′N 45°02′E / 12.800°N 45.033°E / 12.800; 45.033
CountryYemen
regionAden Region
GovernorateAden
First settled[1]7th century BC
British occupation19 January 1829
Aden Settlement1829
Province of Aden1932–1937
Colony of Aden1 April 1937
State of Aden within the FSA18 January 1963
Independence30 November 1967
Government
 • GovernorDr. Ahmed Lamlas
 • Governing bodyAden Local Council
 • Aden Police DirectorMaj Gen Mutahar Al-Shuaibi
Area
 • Total760 km2 (290 sq mi)
Elevation
6 m (20 ft)
Population
 (2017)[2]
 • Total863,000 Increase
 • Estimate 
(2023)[3]
1,079,670 Increase
 • Density1,135.52/km2 (2,941.0/sq mi)
DemonymAdeni/Adenies
Ethnicities
 • MajorityArabs
 • MinoritiesAfro-Arabs, Indians, Somalis
Languages
 • OfficialArabic MSA
(Education and Government)
 • SpokenAdeni Arabic (Majority)

English[4][5] (Widely used)

Hindi,[6] Somali[7] (minorities)
Time zoneUTC+3 (AST)
Area code02
Port of Aden from the ISS, 2016

Aden (Arabic: عَدَنْ, romanizedʿAdan, Old South Arabian: 𐩲𐩵𐩬) is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and north of the Gulf of Aden. With its strategic location on the coastline, Aden serves as a gateway between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, making it a crucial maritime hub connecting Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As of 2023, Aden City has a population of approximately 1,080,000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Yemen.[8]

The city, with its rich trade history, embraces a vibrant blend of Arabic, Indian, and African influences.[9] Positioned near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a vital maritime route, it serves as a crucial seaport. The city boasts key infrastructure like Aden International Airport and notable healthcare institutions including Aljoumhouria Teaching Hospital (Queen Elizabeth II), Aden General Hospital, and Friendship Teaching Hospital. Aden is divided into eight districts: Tawahi, Mualla, Crater, Khur Maksar, Al Mansura, Dar Sad, Sheikh Othman, and Al Buraiqa. These form today's Aden Governorate. During British Colonialism, Aden referred to the area along the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, encompassing Tawahi, Mualla, Crater, and much of Khur Maksar District. The western harbor peninsula, known as Little Aden, now falls within the Al Buraiqa District.

Map showing Aden and Little Aden within the modern-day Governorate of Aden

Before gaining independence, Aden comprised distinct sub-centers: Crater, the original port; Ma'alla, the modern port; Tawahi, formerly "Steamer Point"; and Gold Mohur resorts. Khormaksar, on the isthmus connecting Aden to the mainland, hosts diplomatic missions, Aden University's main offices, and Aden International Airport. On the mainland, sub-centers include Sheikh Othman, an old oasis area; Al-Mansura, a British-planned town; and Madinat ash-Sha'b (formerly Madinat al-Ittihad), the former capital of the South Arabian Federation, now housing a large power/desalination facility and additional Aden University faculties.

Aden encloses the eastern side of a vast, natural harbour that constitutes the modern port. A long time ago this necessitated the existence of Aden's reservoirs, the Cisterns of Tawila. As described by 14th century scholar Ibn Battuta, "These reservoirs accumulate rainwater for the sole purpose of drinking for the city's citizens." Little Aden became the site of the oil refinery and tanker port. Both were established and operated by British Petroleum until they were turned over to South Yemeni government ownership and control in 1978.

Aden used to be the capital of South Yemen until its unity with North Yemen in 22 May 1990. It is currently the temporary capital of Yemen since the 2014 Coup d'état, hosting some members of the Cabinet of Yemen mainly in al-Maashiq Palace. It is also the seat of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, which exercises control over the city.[10]

  1. ^ Britannica, N.A. ""Aden". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2023". Britannica. The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Archived from the original on 26 April 2015. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ Central Statistical Organisation. "Yemen Statistical Yearbook for 2017". Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Aden Population". World Population Review. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ^ "What Languages Are Spoken in Yemen?". WorldAtlas. 3 August 2017. Archived from the original on 30 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  5. ^ An Investigation about the Importance of Speaking English as a Second Research Paper." Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/social-science/1732558-an-investigation-about-the-importance-of-speaking-english-as-a-second-language-in-the-republic-of-yemen Archived 30 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Rodrigues, Charlene. "From Aden to Trafalgar: Arabic leaves its mark on world's languages". Middle East Eye. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Yemen: Two Young Somalis Become Role Models In Their Community - Somalia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 24 May 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Aden Population 2023". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  9. ^ Peace, Yemen (27 March 2022). "The Other Side of Aden". Yemen Peace Forum. Archived from the original on 22 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Yemen conflict: Southern separatists seize control of Aden". 10 August 2019. Retrieved 29 February 2024.

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