Ibb

Ibb (إِبّ) is a city in Yemen, the capital of Ibb Governorate, located about 117 km northeast of Mocha and 194 km south of Sana'a. A market town and administrative centre developed during the Ottoman Empire, it is one of the most important medium-sized cities in the country. It is situated on a mountain ridge, surrounded by fertile land. As of 2023, it has an estimated population of 771,500 residents. Other names for Ibb, is "The Land of Green"

History


Ibb has been occupied since ancient times, and due to its strategic importance, the Ottomans used it as an administrative center. It thrived as a market town and the Ottomans established the Wednesday market in Ibb. Ibb was governed by a semi-autonomous emir until 1944, when the emirate was abolished. At times in its history many people have migrated to Ibb from areas of Yemen experiencing drought, to find work in farming. In the mid-1950s there was reportedly an outbreak of smallpox in the city.

German explorer Hermann Burchardt photographed the city in 1901; these photos are now held at the Ethnological Museum of Berlin.

Climate
Ibb is located at an altitude of 2050 m on a spur of Mount Shamāḥī. Due to its high altitude, Ibb has a subtropical highland climate (Köppen climate classification: Cwa), and is one of the wettest areas of Yemen, typically receiving around 500 mm of rain per annum.

Notable landmarks
The city is noted for its towering stone houses, with geometrical friezes and circular stained glass windows known as qamiriya. The main mosque was built during the Ottoman period, and there are other mosques and also a fortress in the vicinity, closed to visitors. An ancient overhead aqueduct still remains. Ibb University was established in 1996. The main football team is Al Sha'ab Ibb.

Notable people

 * Owais al-Qarani, Muslim saint
 * Abdul Rahman al-Iryani, former President of Yemen
 * Abdul Karim al-Iryani, former Prime Minister of Yemen
 * Abdul Aziz Al-Maqaleh, poet and writer
 * Abdul Majeed al-Zindani, founder and head of Iman University
 * Hamdan Dammag, novelist and computer scientist