The weather in Yemen changes from area to area according to the changing geographical patterns. The four seasons, however, overlap to appear as if they were two, summer, and winter. The summer spans the period from April to September. Summer is moderate in the mountain area and hot with high humidity on the coastal areas, and the Islands. The winter, on the other hand, spans the period from October to March. It is moderately cold in the mountains and moderate in the islands and coastal areas.

In the coastal area (the Tihamah region), the climate is primarily dry and hot with an annual rainfall of about 229mm (9in). This region is prone to severe sandstorms and maximum daytime temperature range from 32°C in winter to over 40°C in summer. 

The highland areas boast a mild, temperate climate with pleasantly cool winters. Temperatures range from 21.7°C in June to 13.9°C in January. Highland rainfall varies from about 406mm (16in) to 762mm (30in). 

Two periods of increased rainfall are linked with the eastern and western monsoons; the first of these arrives in April/May and the second in July to September. Most of the rain falls on the western mountains.

The Republic of Yemen is located in the southern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, the southwestern part of Asia. Saudi Arabia borders it in the north, the Arab Sea and the Indian Ocean in the south, the Sultanate of Oman in the east, and the Red Sea in the west.

Yemen topography is very varied. To the west along the Red Sea there is a flat sandy plain about 30 to 40 kms wide and extending the length of the country. There is a similar plain with occasional extensions of mountains to the south. In the interior there is an immense plate of granite with layers of weathered sedimentary rocks interspersed with the remains of volcanic activity. This plate is tilted upwards on a northwest-southeast axis to heights of well over 3000m (the highest mountain is 3660m). The southern axis of this plate runs parallel to the south coast with the heights of the mountain gradually reducing until by the time the border with Oman is reached, the heights is no more than approximately 1000m. 

The land slopes away to the northwest from these two mountain axes through high fertile plateaus. On one of these the capital Sana'a is located; Marib, the ancient capital of the Queen of Sheba is on another. As the lie of the land continues to fall towards the northeast, the landscape changes to become scrub and desert. With the exception of one important valley- Hadramawt this eastern half of the country is empty of people and devoid of cultivation.

Yemen is a strongly Arab country in both language and culture. There are many tribal and religious distinctions with regard to location. The people of the Tihamah coastal plain are of mixed Arab and African descent, while other groups are mainly of Arab origin. The Zaidi tribe are Shi'ite Muslims, who inhabit the northern mountain region and whose religious and political beliefs exerted a great influence on Northern Yemen from the 9th century onwards. 

The northern and southern lowland regions are dominated by the Shafii community of Sunnite Muslims, who are widely different in their culture and economic structure and have often been at variance with the Zaidi over social and political issues. 

Yemen was closed to the outside world for hundreds of years, but is now opening its doors to deal commercially with other nations. Although Islamic culture and customs are still observed very strictly by Muslims, western visitors are allowed to consume alcoholic drinks in hotels and in private houses. 

Much Yemeni business is conducted while chewing qat, a leaf which is grown locally and much enjoyed by the Yemeni people as an aid to thought and decision-making. Westerners in business meetings are not expected to participate in the qat-chewing ritual, unless they so wish.

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