Al Mukalla

Aerial view of 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

Waterfront of Al Mukalla.

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.

Get in

By plane

National carrier Yemenia operates a few domestic flights to Mukalla.

• 1 Riyan Mukalla International Airport (مطار الريان الدولي) (30 km east of the city). RIY  ^IATA (updated Jan 2023)

See

The entrance of the Qu'aiti palace museum

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

• 1 Fort Al-Ghwayzi (حِصْن ٱلْغوَيْزِي). Built on the foot of a rock and designed to protect the city from Bedouin attacks, this historic fortress dates back to 1716 when the sultans of the Emirate of Al-Kassad ruled the Hadhramaut area. (updated Jan 2023)
• 2 Qu'aiti palace museum (قصر السلطان القعيطي). A former royal palace, now turned into a regional museum. (updated Jan 2023)
• 3 Sik'kat Yaqoub (سكة يعقوب), Hayy Ash-Shaheed Khalid (by car or public transport). Market area near the Yaqoub cemetery (updated Nov 2024)
• 4 Khor al-Mukalla. (updated Nov 2024)

Do

Nearby are Hadhramaut Mountains, such as Husn Ghuraf.

Sleep

Ramada Al Mukalla Hotel

• 1 Ramada Al Mukalla. One of the best hotels in the area. It is not in the city centre but is a few kilometres away. It has a private beach, swimming pool and intermittent internet. All rooms have a sea view. It used to be a Holiday Inn, but has changed to the Ramada brand. Be careful on the beach as it is rocky with sharp objects/sea urchins at low tide. (updated Jan 2023)
• Hadhramaut Hotel, ☏ +967 5 302060, +967 5 303441. Has swimming pool. On the eastern side of the city. 
• Al Salama Hotel. Cheaper hotel in the old city 

Go next

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