Hababah, Mountain settlement in Sanaa Governorate, Yemen
Stone buildings line the narrow streets of Hababah, positioned at an elevation of 2,604 meters in the Yemeni mountains, creating a dense urban pattern.
The settlement traces its name to Habābah ibn Lubākhah from the Himyar tribe, as documented by the tenth-century writer al-Hamdani.
Local residents gather at the central water cistern, maintaining traditional practices of water collection and community interactions throughout the seasons.
Visitors require local guides to navigate through the settlement, with transportation arrangements available from the capital city of Sanaa.
The stone water cistern reflects the surrounding buildings on its surface, demonstrating ancient engineering methods for water management in desert regions.
Location: Sanaa Governorate
GPS coordinates: 15.54215,43.86785
Latest update: March 5, 2025 21:08
Yemen offers photographers subjects ranging from the ancient mud architecture of Sanaa to volcanic craters and the geological formations of Socotra. The Old City of Sanaa presents multi-story tower houses decorated with white gypsum patterns, while Shibam in Hadhramaut displays mud-brick high-rises dating from the 16th century. The fortress of Kawkaban sits atop a high plateau, the village of Hababah demonstrates traditional mountain architecture, and Shaharah Bridge connects two mountain peaks at an elevation exceeding 8,500 feet (2,600 meters). Socotra features Detwah Lagoon, dragon blood trees and limestone caves within its distinct ecosystem. The crater of Haradha Damt is an extinct volcano near Damt, the Marib Dam represents Sabaean engineering from antiquity, and the ruins of Arsh Balqis mark an ancient temple site. Wadi Dawan cuts through Hadhramaut with palm groves and mud villages, Jabal al-Nabi Shu'ayb reaches 12,028 feet (3,666 meters) as the highest peak on the Arabian Peninsula, and Zabid preserves its role as a historic center of Islamic scholarship. Sira Fortress in Aden occupies a volcanic rock above the harbor, Dar al-Hajar in Wadi Dhahr is an 18th-century palace built on a rock outcrop, and Al Saleh Mosque in Sanaa dates from 2008.
Marib Dam
148.5 km
Barran Temple
159 km
Ghumdan Palace
42.7 km
Dar al-Hajar
29.8 km
Jabal An-Nabi Shu'ayb
31.4 km
Al Saleh Mosque
43.7 km
Great Mosque of Sana'a
42.8 km
Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba
159 km
Shaharah Bridge
73.8 km
Yemen Gate
43 km
Sanctuary of the Queen of Sheba
160.4 km
Sirwah
123.8 km
National Museum of Yemen
41.8 km
Palace of Queen Arwa
182.7 km
Al-Bakiriyya Mosque
42.8 km
Shibam-Kawkaban
5.3 km
Al-Hadi Mosque
155.9 km
Al-Mahdi Mosque
42.2 km
Yemen Military Museum
41.8 km
Kaminahu
116.2 km
Talha Mosque
42.5 km
Salah al-Din Mosque
42.5 km
Al Hudayda Castle
129.9 km
Ancient Dam of Ma’rib
150.8 km
Ma’rib Ancient Historical Old City
158 km
Almaqah Temple
123.9 km
Archaeological site of Marib
157.8 km
Bab Al-Yaman market
42.6 kmReviews
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