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As the title suggests, what you'll be looking for in Yemen (if you're into buying stuff at all) are handicrafts. They're available everywhere where there is some tourist trade and the selection does not differ very much from one location to another. Greatest selection is to be had in the souq of the Old City of Sana'a (enter the Old City through the Bab el-Yemen and it will be ahead of you in its full glory). Jambiyas and their belts, jewelry, miniature Yemeni houses are to be found everywhere. There are a few galleries: in Bab el-Yemen (that is in the gate itself); on the square in front of the gate (in the far left corner); and there is the National Gallery (not a museum), which you'll find if you continue straight ahead (North).
Prices are probably best here in Sana'a, but I wouldn't worry about it too much as most items are pretty cheap. Also bear in mind that poverty is greatest in the countryside, so any income derived from you there will have a greater impact.
If you enter through Bab el-Yemen and continue straight into the street ahead after 50 metres it splits. If you take the street that's more to your left, you'll soon pass a little indoor plaze on your right-hand side with a shop that has a great variety of Kashmiri shawls. Continuing you'll pass the Great Mosque on your left-hand side (peek inside). At the end of the mosque's wall turn right: here some shops are selling typically Yemeni soap stone items, like the pots used for making salta. First left you'll find the National Gallery, which sells paintings, photographs and postcards - entry is free and from the top floor you'll be able to see the Old City from above.
If close to the Bab (gate) you would have taken the street that was more to your right, you would have passed another - supposedly even better - Kashmiri shawl shop on your right, located at the very street corner. It's tiny, but if you take the steep stairs up you'll agree that their selection is staggering. (Continue straight and after 100 metres you'll come to a little square with the National Gallery on your left-hand side.) Theme: OtherAddress: Old Sana'a souqDirections: Enter through Bab el-Yemen and go straight ahead or turn right from the square inside the gate. It's a very large souq with lovely smells and it's extremely scenic both during the day and in the evening (shops start to close from 9 PM onwards).
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Books on Yemen: Taj Sheba hotel (available in the business centre)
Western goods: Yemen Mall (on Da'iry Street [Ring Road] close to the intersection with Hadda Road, on the side of Al-Rowaishan BMW/LandRover) and Sana'a Trade Center (aka Libyan Trade Center on Al-Jazair [Algiers Street], close to Tehama Trading Nissan/Peugeot) for watches, perfumes, shoes (Bally's), iPOD, lingerie, jeans (Diesel), Baskin Robbins icecream.
Stationery/office supplies: Maktabati on Hadda Road (almost across from the BMW/LandRover dealer) and one in Hadda on Hadda Road (between 60 Metres Road and Medina Zakaniya/Beirut Street on your rgigt habd side).
Clothing: Jamal Street (very popular shopping street West of Tahrir Square); CityMaxx (huge shop for women's, men's and children's day and night wear on 60 Metres Road, on your right hand side coming from Hadda Road, just before the Yemen Petroleum Corporation).
Largest supermarkets: Shumaila Hari (the biggest, also a bit of a department store for clothing, shoes and other stuff upstairs; located off Hadda Road: travelling South it's the first right after the intersection with Djibouti Street); Al-Huda on Zubeiry Street (travel North on Hadda Road, turn left at the end onto Zubeiry Street, on your right hand side after a few hundred metres; good bakery next door; not too far from the Taj Sheba hotel); Al-Jandool (corner of Hadda Road and Iran Street)
In Aden: Aden Mall (the biggest and newest of the country; a/c). Not very interesting for the traveller, except for Lulu Hypermarket which offers the best selection of products (like cheese, fruits and vegetables as well as non-food) in the country. (Upstairs there's a little department store, but this has nothing special to offer). Lulu (a regional chain of more than 50 hypermarkets) is planning on opening malls in Sana'a and Mukallah in the near future. Theme: OtherDirections: To find Lulu Hypermarket in Aden: follow the causeway from the mainland to the 'island', turn left at the Golden Tulip Aden Hotel, turn right towards Crater and you;ll find it by the sea on your left hand side.
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 by TheLongTone
Or you could buy a knock-off bit of footbball kit. Actually a Barca or Chelsea shirt works quite well with a futa.
between 1000 & 3000 rials Theme: Men's Clothes
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 by MichaelFalk1969
1. Haggling is not as common as in other tourist destinations. The prices are usually not ridiculously high tourist prices but more or less what you will pay. Some haggling is okay just for the fun of it, but don`t expect the price to drop to 50% of the original offer.
2. There are virtually no aggressive hawkers trying to force you buying something you don`t want. The traders will try to get your attention but if you show that you are not interested or the price is too high, they usually accept your decision without hard feelings. It is not stressful to go shopping in a Yemeni Suk. The only exceptions where the villages of Thulla, Shibam and Hajjara, where they practice "hard selling" but even there a "no" will be accepted.
3. Learn some arabic numbers, it makes haggling easier and more fun. Useful phrases: "bikam hatha" ("th" like in "the") = How much?, "aiwa" = yes, "la" = no.
4. Keep in mind that many products offered in the suk may are not produced in Yemen but elsewhere. Many goods are imported from China, India or elsewhere.
- the Yemeni dagger (Jambiya)
- replicas of the beautiful Yemeni stained glass-windows
- clothing, shawls (though usually not Yemeni, but from India)
- incense (and incense burners)
- the delicious honey from Hadramaut
- silverware
- old metal or wood boxes with pretty ornaments
- shishas Theme: Other
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The Hadramaut is famous for its honey, which tastes unlike any honey you can buy in your local supermarket. It is quite expensive, but makes a tasty souvenir. Ask for "No. 1 honey".
1500 Rial for a glass Theme: Food and DrinkDirections: Hadramaut
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 khanjar shop in old
Sana'a by JohnniOmani
The khanjars in Yemen are slightly different than other Arabian daggers because they have a leather handles with stripes. The color is usually a dark color and the blade is slightly more tilted than Oman etc. The casing is usually superb as well.
You can pay from $40 to $500 + depending on the quality. Leave a Comment Theme: Local CraftDirections: A lot of shops in old Sana'a sell them.
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In any large town or wherever you find tourists, you will easily find shops selling Jambiayas. Unlike some of their North African cousins, Yemeni shopkeepers tend to be very easy going and will not pursue you if you say no. Have a long chat with them first and maybe a cup of tea before you begin negotiations. You will both be more relaxed and you will probably end up with a better price.
A Jambiya is a dagger with a broad curved blade that the men carry in their belts.
$5-7 for a medium sized one that does not have a quality blade. For a large sized, quality blade and a very decorative scabbard you will pay about $20 with a lot of negotiation. You really need to compare and haggle really hard. Leave a Comment Theme: Local Craft
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 by grazy56
LA DJAMBLIA: poignard à large lame plus ou moins recourbée et principal accessoire de la tenue traditionnelle de l'homme yéménite. Son prix varie en fonction de sa date de fabrication, de la valeur de son manche qui peut être en corne de rhinocéros, d' ivoire (extrement rare), recouvert de pierres précieuses, en argent finement cisellé, mais aussi de son fourreau et ceinture qui peuvent être très décorés et travaillés. Le plus beaux exemplaires se vendent dans les souqs de Sana'a, Saada e Taez.
La DHUMA poignard moins recourbé des habitants de l'Hadramaout.
Le SABIQI épé portée par les Bédouins de la région de Marib.
BIJOUX ANTIQUES EN ARGENT: difficile d'en trouver, autrefois fabriqués par les artisants juifs aujourd'hui les femmes Yéménites tréfèrent l'or.
PIERRES DEMI PRECIEUSES: rentre dans une bijouterie c'est comme rentrer dans la caverne d'Ali Baba: ambre, corail, cornaline…
AUTRE: vannerie colorée et chapaux pointus portés par les femmes de l'hadramaout et de la Tihama; antiques thalers de Marie Thérèse d'Autriche (plus chers qu'en Europe); tissus et étoffes de Bay El faqid et de Shir (Hadramaout) et tissus brodés de fil d'or et très beaux motifs dans le souq de Sana'a; lampes a huile en albatre; lampes qui reproduisent les maisons tours de Yèmem; épices de toute sortes sans oublier l'encens et la myrre. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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This fantastic shop is owned by a very nice man named Abdellah Swaid. In addition to selling souvenirs he also can arrange tours and help with local information. Stop in a sit on the carpet and least visit for a while. Have a cup of tea and tell Abdellah what excursions you want to take and you agree the price. I arranged a tour into the mountains other people told me could not be done or would cost more.
His shop is also full of every kind of souvenir you want for back home. From postcards to Jambiyas, ceramics to jewellery. He has it!
Need information? This shop seems to be the local centre for ex-pats. Every time I went to visit and get information, a Western student or 2 were always there.
Please note, Abdellah leaves the shop to go to prayer. I was left in charge of his shop while he was in the nearby Dawud (David) Mosque. Leave a Comment Theme: Local CraftAddress: Old Sana’a City, PO Box 20551Phone: 00967-733327970Directions: Near Taiha Hotel and just to the right of the Dawud Mosque entrance (see photos).Website: samcity70@yahoo.com
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You will see the wheelbarrows full of the fruit of the prickly pear cactus just about everywhere. Piled high with ripe fruit, just wait a minute if it seems unattended. Someone will suddenly appear to sell you a handfull. They have a lot of seeds, but are sweet and easy to eat. You may need a knife or just ask them to cut them open for you.
Just a few pennies for a handfull. Leave a Comment Theme: OtherDirections: In markets and roadside stops on tourist trails.
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