Yemen is one of the most fascinating counties in the world to visit, and yet receives the least tourists.

Unfortunately, it has received some bad press recently and over the last years. The main concern for visitors is kidnapping since foreigners may be a target particularly in Saada, to the north of Sanaa, where there is less government control. Otherwise its a pretty friendly place and the ordinary people really welcome visitors. I hope the situation doesn't deteriorate.

Apart from the roads, the people and scenery is really interesting and often unique. The architecture of the 6000 year old city of Sanaa, the buildings on rocks, the Crater of Aden, the array of daggers and guns carried by everyone, the food and other 'substances' people enjoy. Everything for the die-hard traveller. Tourism information can be found at Yemen Tourism (http://www.yementourism.com/)

Roads:

It is a poor country compared to its neighbors and the roads could do with improvement. It does have a small motorway of sorts running from Aden Port to Sheikh Othman along the casueway and a sort of ring road around Sanaa but not to European standards.

The main roads are of reasonable to good condition outside the cities but the network of sealed roads is small particularly in the east. There are road connections to Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the east. One day there may be a Yemen-Djibouti Bridge (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=639463)

Its pretty tough terrain with lots of desert, rocky outcrops and wadis and mountains (the road from Sanaa to Hudaydah reaches 2900 metres).

A good map is the Geo-center 'World-map: Arabian Peninsula'.

The series of images are from my visit in November 1994.

Sanaa - the market square in Old Sanaa inside from the main gate (Bab al-Yaman) and surrounded by the souq (Souq al-Milh)
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/7963/yesanaa05oldsanaasouk.jpg

Road from Aden to Sanaa
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/7052/yeadentosanaa11.jpg

Aden is the capital of the former South Yemen, its a fascinating city particularly the area known as Crater which is located in an extinct volcano (perhaps the only city inside a volcano). The city is surrounded by vast salt pans.

Aden - Ras Qatam, linking Khormaksar to Crater
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/4639/yeaden01rasqatam.jpg

Aden - Queen Arwa Road at Ma'alla
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/8477/yeaden02.jpg

Aden - Queen Arwa Road near the crater rim
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/2690/yeaden03queenarward.jpg

Aden - Queen Arwa Road with Aden Gate
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/268/yeaden04queenarward.jpg

The Causeway, a kind of motorway connecting Ma'alla and the Port to Sheikh Othman via the salt pans
http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5076/yeaden05causeway.jpg

The Causeway also bypasses Khormaksar and the airport
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/3641/yeaden06causeway.jpg

The road from Aden to Sanaa passes through numerous villiages and excellent desert scenery.


http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7979/yeadentosanaa01.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3860/yeadentosanaa02.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/4300/yeadentosanaa03.jpg

http://img686.imageshack.us/img686/5690/yeadentosanaa05.jpg

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/6764/yeadentosanaa06.jpg

The buildings on the rock outcrops makes the highway landscape really unique.
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/423/yeadentosanaa10.jpg

http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/8178/yeadentosanaa12.jpg

Mini tornado or whirlie wind, these are common in the desert here and, like dust storms, illustrate why its wise to cover up
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5032/yeadentosanaa04.jpg

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/6606/yeadentosanaa07.jpg

There have been huge improvements of roads in Yemen during last ~10 years thanks for the help from Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia etc. Many roads in remote parts of country have got new covers. There is now asphalt road all the way from Sanaa to Oman. Long stretches of this are completely new roads instead of old 4x4 tracks at the desert. And so on.
Really nice country with very friendly people and superb scenery along the roads. So sad about all the problems with Al Qaeda, many people at Western Yemen and coastal areas really hate these people.

Does Yemen have any numbered roads??

Sanaa is the capital of Yemen, it is considered to be one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world, at least 3000 years. The architecture in the Old Sanaa is unique. The roads, not so unique, but interesting because of the surrounding buildings.

Bab al-Yaman is congested with taxis and other traffic, really a expansive loading zone for the souq on the other side of the wall
http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/5475/yesanaa01oldsanaagates.jpg

Ali Abdul Mogni Street featuring the Al-Mutwakil Mosque
http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/3526/yesanaa02aliabdulmognis.jpg

Old Sanaa consists of hundereds of backstreets and laneways, 5km/h if youre lucky, drive here really only if you have to.
http://img693.imageshack.us/img693/3392/yesanaa03oldsanaastreet.jpg

Wadis are often used as roads and for various recreational purposes as they can be pretty firm and are generally dry.
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/7529/yesanaa04wadi.jpg

Wadi Dhahr is a scenic excursion from Sanaa
http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/5323/yewadidhahr01.jpg

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8158/yewadidhahr02.jpg

View of Sanaa from the road to Hudayda as the road climbs up the central highlands.
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/8963/yesanaatohudayda01.jpg

The road from Sanaa to Hudayda climbs to over 2900 metres with terraced desert farms and villiages, nearby Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb, the highest mountain is 3660 metres asl.
http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5464/yesanaatohudaida02.jpg

Al-Kurnish Street in Hudayda. Just park a car anywhere along the Red Sea coast.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2853/yehudayda01.jpg

Does Yemen have any numbered roads??

They didnt appear to have any in 1994, I think there would be now, but whether or not they are clearly signposted would be another matter.

Interesting thread, photos of Yemen roads...

those pics are 16 years old...got some new?

btw- town looks interesting

Some pictures made about 2 years ago. Sadly I have very few pictures of the roads of Yemen.


Sanaa. Dry river bed in old town is turned to some kind of "expressway" through city center.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4253049973_be561070fa_o.jpg

Same place during some light rain.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4253818550_2f819e8bb8_o.jpg

Road east from Sanaa to Marib.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4253818656_2c79e16389_o.jpg

Military control post at the enrance of Wadi Hadramawt.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4253050273_1ea9acdbe2_o.jpg

Local road in Wadi Dawan
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4253818838_e528d9a7d9_o.jpg

Road west from Al Mukalla on the way to Aden.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4253050483_1a2f40d6fc_o.jpg

Street in Taizz
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4253819040_30deaa6fca_o.jpg

Some pictures made about 2 years ago. Sadly I have very few pictures of the roads of Yemen.



Thanks for the photos, and I definitely want to see more of yemen. However I really don't understand people who put their name on photos insisting on 'copyright'.. :ohno: thanks for sharing anyway

I went to Yemen few months back and was amazed by Sana'a-Hodeidah road as the ride went up and down many mountains very steeply like crazy :eek: Definitely the most amazing road I've traveled so far.

Sana'a-Aden road is far less interesting- mostly rolling down the central mountain slightly towards Dhamar and Aden.

Would like to try Sana'a- Marib and Sana'a-north route next time.

Road condition is generally good thanks to Gulf investment and many average Yemenis can afford car and car travel.

What a great country, been there 3 times and never feel enough of it !

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4066/4253818838_e528d9a7d9_o.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4253050483_1a2f40d6fc_o.jpg

Wouldn't I just love to drive here!

Looks like a beautiful country.

Some pictures from flickr

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2095/2229306226_4b9722581a_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2315/2219693083_621a555859_o.jpg

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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2885040184_feb75d8a94_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/350268611_66a036d5cb_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/350139782_d9f3a5db6d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3970622545_c46f9a0a1c_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/355822544_ca716fdd6e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2422734877_31ede1b397_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2087/2219689679_81d1bf2ab7_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/2219694379_634e6524f5_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/771322573_d0ae6e457c_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/235795257_cd33c081d0_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/2577013991_9fb269b066_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3084686439_fef9781552_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/758744729_d77e7b4e7e_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1004/758702311_f9c5b98039_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3876009168_c07e7182f6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3664/3356684743_1ba6c7bffc_o.jpg

Roads in Wadi Hadramawt

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5447223799_a68d2d4352_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447223799/)
hadramawt (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447223799/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/5435272481_aa338b9de0_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272481/)
IMG_8292 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272481/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5435272543_2e2c510869_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272543/)
IMG_8293 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272543/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5435272615_285e92ca4f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272615/)
IMG_8294 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272615/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5435272701_e7a7183dfb_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272701/)
IMG_8295 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272701/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5435883082_ce6ec2e091_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883082/)
IMG_8296 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883082/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Foreign people visiting Hadramawt have to have police escort with them all the time outside of hotels. That's why there are many pictures of different police cars with men holding AKs.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5435883128_ccae1f41fc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883128/)
IMG_8308 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883128/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5435883208_8f9b442c8d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883208/)
IMG_8309 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883208/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5435883270_b5fd39981c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883270/)
IMG_8311 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883270/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5015/5435883326_d45a459728_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883326/)
IMG_8312 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883326/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5435273191_9cf30e2d53_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273191/)
IMG_8313 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273191/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5435883450_6984e95a1f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883450/)
IMG_8314 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883450/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8315 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273361/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5176/5435883606_51df66ea0f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883606/)
IMG_8316 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883606/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5435273529_94299351cf_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273529/)
IMG_8318 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273529/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5435273579_8001500d06_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273579/)
IMG_8319 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435273579/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Wadi Dawan, one of the side valleys of Wadi Hadramawt

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5447826822_5c0b5a8907_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447826822/)
dawan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447826822/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/5435883830_cf5a8aa987_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883830/)
IMG_8326 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883830/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5435883930_56a7042cce_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883930/)
IMG_8327 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883930/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5435883988_2a4206e0ce_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883988/)
IMG_8328 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435883988/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8331 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884084/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5435884182_2b8a5c0aaf_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884182/)
IMG_8332 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884182/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/5435884268_618ed10be5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884268/)
IMG_8333 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884268/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/5435884390_6870bf3fd7_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884390/)
IMG_8334 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884390/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/5435274445_d2e37c6932_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435274445/)
IMG_8336 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435274445/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Main road from Wadi Hadramawt to Al Mukalla

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5447843208_67312117af_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447843208/)
al mukalla (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447843208/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/5435884720_b5edff43ca_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884720/)
IMG_8337 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884720/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8338 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435274649/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8339 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884878/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8340 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435884942/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8341 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885006/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5435885080_c0aa755e99_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885080/)
IMG_8342 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885080/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5435275075_ed6dcbcddb_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275075/)
IMG_8343 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275075/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Divided highway between Al Mukalla and Ash-Shihr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5435275143_06ee2cfb1a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275143/)
IMG_8350 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275143/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/5435275241_079d825740_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275241/)
IMG_8351 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275241/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

One of the rare signs of Mashreq road numbers in Yemen, M100. Outside of area around Al Mukalla I have seen only two Mashreq numbers in Yemen. One sign of M45 between Ibb and Ta´izz. And one sign of M55 between Zabid and Al Hudayda. Sadly I have no pictures of these. Yemen is only country beside Syria where I have seen Mashreq numbers so far. There is no national road numbering system in Yemen.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5435275307_89c5041777_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275307/)
IMG_8352 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275307/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road from Aden to Ta'izz

Divided highway north of Aden
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5435885456_e143782b0f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885456/)
IMG_8396 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885456/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5435885516_0cab0d6ff0_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885516/)
IMG_8397 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885516/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5435275495_1a9ee7d0f4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275495/)
IMG_8398 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275495/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5435275567_621fac327f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275567/)
IMG_8399 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275567/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

I wonder why Yemen never really managed to turn its oil and gas revenue into better roads. Yemen arguably has the worst road system in the Middle East or at least the Arabian peninsula.

Road from Ta'izz to Ibb
The road is continuing to Sana´a. So it's connecting Yemen's capital to the third largest city, Ta'izz, but most of traffic from Sana'a to second largest city, Aden, is also using this road currently instead of direct road running further east from here.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5447240589_03b6c38655_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447240589/)
taizz ibb (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447240589/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Divided highway from Ta'izz to Al-Qa'idah
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5435275649_644277b2d6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275649/)
IMG_8403 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275649/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/5435885862_b3fa135aa6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885862/)
IMG_8407 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885862/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

By-pass of Al-Qa'idah
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5435885914_c6ee5188e2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885914/)
IMG_8408 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435885914/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/5435275883_ced71e326b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275883/)
IMG_8410 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435275883/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5435886100_d9c6285aca_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886100/)
IMG_8411 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886100/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road north of Al-Qa'idah is not widened yet
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5435276075_1f5087c0b1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276075/)
IMG_8413 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276075/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5435886238_7fd4af7130_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886238/)
IMG_8414 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886238/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Mountains between Ta'izz and Ibb
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5435886320_1f1c6264e4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886320/)
IMG_8419 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886320/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5435886396_1de69072a9_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886396/)
IMG_8420 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886396/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5435276433_097f0d3edf_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276433/)
IMG_8421 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276433/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Divided highway near Ibb
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4100/5435886550_1f0be718a8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886550/)
IMG_8422 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886550/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

I wonder why Yemen never really managed to turn its oil and gas revenue into better roads. Yemen arguably has the worst road system in the Middle East or at least the Arabian peninsula.

The profit from oil is really small in Yemen comparing with other countries on Arabian peninsula. And export of gas just started about one year ago. Yemen would need huge foreign investments to build up the economy as today most of the people are still working in agriculture and unemployment is about 35 %. You can better compare Yemen with Ethiopia and Eritrea than with Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Current road system is actually good enough for the country and paved roads have reached to most parts of country during last 15 years thanks to the help from Saudi Arabia, Emirates and so on. I visited Yemen last time 3 years ago and during these 3 years there have been huge improvements on many main roads. Lots of new stretches of divided highways have been built or are under construction and some of the oldest asphalt roads have got much needed new covers. There is actually no need for highways with 8 lanes as you can see from road near Ta'izz because traffic even on most important roads don't need more than 2 lanes on most of stretches (except maybe some parts around bigger towns). These are just gifts from more wealthier neighbors and these neighbors have also built good asphalt roads to many small mountain and desert villages.
After recent visit to Yemen it seems for me that many roads in much more developed countries like Syria and Jordan are actually worse than most of roads in Yemen today. And there is much higher traffic density on main highways in Syria and Jordan than in Yemen.

Local road on Mt Sabir near Ta'izz

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5257/5435886650_dd2fda0789_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886650/)
IMG_8458 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886650/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5435276611_73121d099b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276611/)
IMG_8459 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276611/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road from Ta'izz to Tihama region on Red Sea coast

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5447843394_f29e3d3f0c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447843394/)
taizz 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447843394/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5435886816_9cd90cbdf4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886816/)
IMG_8461 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886816/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Partly opened divided highway west of Ta'izz
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5435886882_16f5f84719_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886882/)
IMG_8462 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435886882/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5435276855_b7af118376_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276855/)
IMG_8463 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435276855/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5435887022_cc6132fa70_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887022/)
IMG_8464 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887022/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5137/5435887108_5621aeaab9_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887108/)
IMG_8465 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887108/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Construction of divided highway
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5435887154_18073c84fe_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887154/)
IMG_8466 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887154/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road is descending through mountains to Tihama plane
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5435887224_3aec733242_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887224/)
IMG_8467 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887224/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5435887326_f34088f7ba_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887326/)
IMG_8468 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887326/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Local road on Red Sea coast between Al Khawkhah and Al Fazah

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5435277353_aba8e0883e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277353/)
IMG_8474 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277353/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5216/5435887544_d7a215bf45_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887544/)
IMG_8475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887544/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5435277487_49484d8db5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277487/)
IMG_8476 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277487/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Main road on Tihama plane on the way from Ta'izz to Al Hudayda

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5435887416_846328f2bc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887416/)
IMG_8473 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887416/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5174/5435277551_b3c663ed7a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277551/)
IMG_8477 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277551/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5214/5435887708_a1bf6ac4bc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887708/)
IMG_8478 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887708/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5435277679_ae52171815_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277679/)
IMG_8479 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277679/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Roads in Aden on the way from Gold Mohur to Ma'ala and on to Crater
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5444908744_10098b3948_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5444908744/)
aden (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5444908744/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5435271809_f27f58f7ea_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435271809/)
Aden tanav01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435271809/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5435271891_6c8d6025e8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435271891/)
Aden tanav02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435271891/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/5435882356_5b2af1bf75_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882356/)
Aden tanav03 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882356/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Ma'ala
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/5435272041_80a52c74e4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272041/)
Aden tanav04 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272041/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5435272143_5a0cdbe8e8_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272143/)
Aden tanav05 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272143/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5435272219_f9a952d709_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272219/)
Aden tanav06 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435272219/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Site of former Aden's gate. Entrance to Crater.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5435882636_82594b8659_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882636/)
Aden tanav07 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882636/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5435882710_198e4c76db_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882710/)
Aden tanav08 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882710/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

We should remember that this beautiful country is actually the poorest arab country. As it has been said above, Yemen has few natural ressources and remain mainly a rural country. Given that, I think the road infrastructure does not seem to be so bad.

Nice photos, vatse.:)

I like the maps of the route, and the captions are helpful too.

.

Nice photos, vatse.:)

I like the maps of the route, and the captions are helpful too.

.

Thanks :)

I hope to post some more routes next week.

Road from Al Hudayda to Sana'a

It's one of the oldest roads built for motor traffic in Yemen. It was built during 1950s by Chinese workers to connect Sana'a to Al-Hudayda, the most important port of former Northern Yemen. Until this time it was possible to reach Red Sea from Sana'a only by mules and donkeys on small mountain tracks. After opening it stayed as one of the busiest roads in Yemen until unification of Yemen but it stays as one of the main transport roads for goods to/from Sana'a until today. Most of traffic from Sana'a to Saudi Arabia is also using this road through mountains but some of the traffic is using northern road through Amran and Hajjah. Original mountain road have got the new and much needed asphalt on most of the road already but some parts are still waiting for renovation.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4145/5447853766_025921e781_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447853766/)
al hudayda-sanaa (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5447853766/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

The road from Al-Hudayda to beginning of mountains is widened to divided highway
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/5435887816_c119e0f9ae_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887816/)
IMG_8480 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887816/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5435887876_50f686940a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887876/)
IMG_8481 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435887876/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/5435277843_a54d766ca2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277843/)
IMG_8482 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435277843/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/5435888030_44b49d835f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888030/)
IMG_8483 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888030/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5435888102_8c75504617_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888102/)
IMG_8484 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888102/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5435888178_17f35964cb_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888178/)
IMG_8485 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888178/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5435278119_60cb57aa16_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278119/)
IMG_8486 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278119/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

The road follows Wadi Dayan for some time and then some side valleys of it reaching the heart of mountains without steep rise. Lowest parts of valleys are good for banana, papaya etc. growing with tropical climate. Higher parts are suitable for coffee and qat plantations.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/5435888350_33c00df937_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888350/)
IMG_8487 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888350/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5435888434_aa8fec004c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888434/)
IMG_8488 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888434/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8489 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888522/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8490 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278375/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8492 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888686/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8494 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888808/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8495 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888920/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8497 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435888982/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8498 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435889064/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8499 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278823/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5435278893_8aa7fb40f4_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278893/)
IMG_8500 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435278893/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

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IMG_8501 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435889280/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5435279055_6295cc51a5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279055/)
IMG_8502 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279055/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5435279161_250a3113d1_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279161/)
IMG_8503 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279161/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5256/5435279241_24505aafa9_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279241/)
IMG_8504 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279241/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5435279325_66fea7d825_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279325/)
IMG_8505 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279325/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Until now the road have reached only the altitude of about 1200 m but with next 10-15 km it has to rise up to the first pass at about 1970 m. You can see some houses near the pass on mountain side in front of you.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/5435889744_947046d5b2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435889744/)
IMG_8506 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435889744/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5435279537_5ab65eca45_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279537/)
IMG_8507 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279537/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5435279603_3f9b1d6cca_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279603/)
IMG_8508 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435279603/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Absolutely gorgeous, I envy you. And those roads aren't bad at all.

After the first pass the road descends and then starts to rise again until second pass at about 2900 m.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5435890242_a791f3f893_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890242/)
IMG_8520 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890242/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5435280001_8be0f4e403_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435280001/)
IMG_8521 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435280001/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

This part of road is not renovated yet.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5435890418_fba2f3013d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890418/)
IMG_8522 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890418/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5435890502_5881b8f40f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890502/)
IMG_8523 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890502/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/5435280259_42a3141f6a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435280259/)
IMG_8524 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435280259/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5435890638_720d9b2789_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890638/)
IMG_8525 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890638/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5098/5435890722_c5b14dd890_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890722/)
IMG_8526 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890722/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

The road works started from Sana'a and have reached some place west of second pass already.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5435890824_7e7d23d109_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890824/)
IMG_8527 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890824/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4143/5435890922_a188364a6e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890922/)
IMG_8528 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890922/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5435891026_6c3ec448f6_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891026/)
IMG_8529 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891026/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

On some mountain stretches they have kept the original width of the road as it's too expensive to widen the road and there is still no need for that also.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5435891096_5888afa067_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891096/)
IMG_8531 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891096/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5435891170_9b310e26bd_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891170/)
IMG_8532 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891170/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5013/5435891248_06671bcf26_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891248/)
IMG_8533 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891248/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5435891340_b279cf5666_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891340/)
IMG_8534 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891340/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5435891420_367a952c83_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891420/)
IMG_8535 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891420/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/5435891594_d0b54cb05a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891594/)
IMG_8537 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891594/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/5435281283_f1ee5e9e36_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281283/)
IMG_8538 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281283/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5435281361_73d0fc3caf_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281361/)
IMG_8539 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281361/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Local road near Manakha
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5435890024_5ab2c8af09_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890024/)
IMG_8517 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890024/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5291/5435890122_cf1d2d260c_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890122/)
IMG_8518 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890122/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5218/5435890192_3ce372cc01_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890192/)
IMG_8519 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435890192/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road from Sana'a to Amran and onto Kuhlan

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5476353550_9142d87670_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5476353550/)
sanaa-kuhlan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5476353550/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Road to Amran is quite busy connecting Sana'a with this nearby provincial capital and also with northern provinces including Sa'dah. Some people are using the road west from Amran also for driving to Saudi Arabia.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5435891780_ef66f4d56e_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891780/)
IMG_8551 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891780/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/5435891816_259a31217a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891816/)
IMG_8552 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891816/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5435891892_82022af2e3_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891892/)
IMG_8553 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891892/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Part of the road is already upgraded to divided highway
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5179/5435891970_45c9dfe1dc_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891970/)
IMG_8555 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435891970/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5435892066_0f65ee29fa_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892066/)
IMG_8557 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892066/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Divided highway is running also west from Amran until first mountains
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5435281779_ac0561bfe3_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281779/)
IMG_8578 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435281779/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

End of divided highway
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5435892254_5544bc68ca_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892254/)
IMG_8579 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892254/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Mountain road near Kuhlan. The stone obelisk is part of original mountain side left by road workers to show the amount of work they have done to build this road.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/5435892324_0aff07c509_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892324/)
IMG_8583 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892324/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5435892390_d8c70f9517_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892390/)
IMG_8590 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892390/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/5435892454_05e1eff55b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892454/)
IMG_8594 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892454/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/5435892510_f3aaafa97b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892510/)
IMG_8595 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892510/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Some bigger roads in Sana'a

Western part of ring road of Sana'a (60 Meters Road).
It's the closest thing for expressway what I have seen in Yemen. Still there are some u-turns and so on.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5056/5435282701_7b5a3caced_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282701/)
Sanaa tanav08 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282701/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5096/5435893114_9148f338c0_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435893114/)
Sanaa tanav09 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435893114/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5435282853_5f82af1b48_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282853/)
Sanaa tanav10 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282853/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/5435282903_11cec3d8a5_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282903/)
Sanaa tanav11 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282903/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

One of the main north-south streets.

At southern part of Sana'a
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5259/5435893342_e624235d6f_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435893342/)
Sanaa tanav12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435893342/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/5435882136_be2f2d22a2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882136/)
Sanaa tanav13 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435882136/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

At the center of the city
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/5435892580_e557368a3d_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892580/)
Sanaa tanav01 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892580/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/5435282239_b91b01c0f2_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282239/)
Sanaa tanav02 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282239/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

Az Zubayri street, main west-east street
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/5435282335_812b333e7a_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282335/)
Sanaa tanav03 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282335/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4146/5435282411_e7f3ccb565_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282411/)
Sanaa tanav04 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282411/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5435282561_6aaebdbe8b_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282561/)
Sanaa tanav06 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435282561/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/5435892998_7ffcb7e6f3_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892998/)
Sanaa tanav07 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/43126659@N02/5435892998/) by vatse (http://www.flickr.com/people/43126659@N02/), on Flickr

^^ Do you know the speed limit of those roads, highways in Sana'a?

^^ Do you know the speed limit of those roads, highways in Sana'a?

Most of the pictures are from ordinary streets so it's probably 50 km/h. Only ring road of Sana'a may have higher speed limits, probably 70 km/h. Can't remember this exactly but there was some kind of higher speed limit on ring road.
Most of drivers would drive as fast as possible anyway ;)

its worse that what i expected....

the roads are quite ok IMO

it looked better than I expected... but some roads needs to be widened.:)