Agriculture and Economy

This chapter assesses agriculture and economy in Yemen. Yemen was a latecomer to the Arabian oil market, as significant reserves were discovered only in 1986 by the Hunt Oil Company. Contracts between Yemen and foreign oil companies began as a production-sharing agreement that gradually allotted the government a greater share of oil revenue as initial investment was recouped. The discovery of oil was one of the main factors that facilitated the union between North and South Yemen in 1990. Aside from oil, Yemen's main exports include coffee and qat. The chapter then looks at the water crisis in Yemen; the typical Yemeni cuisine; and the main ports, markets, and banking systems in Yemen.