Architecture and Identity

Yemen belongs to the poorest countries of the world, its commercial and industrial capacities are underdeveloped, economic growth is slow and national debts are growing. Its economy is dominated by oil and gas (more than 90% of total exports), unfortunately this sector is mainly in the hands of foreign oil companies. In comparison to its neihbouring OPEC-countries Yemenite oil production is small, and even worse, the World Bank (IMF) predicts that it will fall to zero as oil wells are likely to run dry within the next ten years. Typically for third world countries is a big but unefficient agricultural sector (20% of GDP, more than 50% of working population). Usable water as well as fertile soil are limited, both used up to 50% for production of khat, which leaves Yemen short by food. The country heavily depends on imports, machines and food being the top positions with about 25% of total imports each. Business community mostly consists of very small companies; due to high analpabetism the Yemenite work force is low skilled and poorly paid. Yemen’s economy got hit by two major incidents in recent years; during the Persian Gulf War many Yemenis were forced to return to from the Persian Gulf states losing their jobs, later terrorism and unstable political conditions led to a slump of the touristic sector, which had been big part of Yemenite economy until then. Yemen is object of some different programs of international aid that are mainly addressing issues such as education, health, water, corruption, sustainable economic development and reform of public services. To foreign as well as local investors the country offers certain potential, but attractivity is heavily hampered by the facts listed above; Yemenite government is trying to amend infrastructure, reduce bureaucracy and reform economy to improve the country’s position in the competition against its neighbours.