Yemen Shopping

Everywhere: Khanjar Shopping

by JohnniOmani

Old Sana'a is absolutely loaded with souvenirs but men in Yemen take great pride in making and selling the locally named Khanjar. They are on display everywhere and every man wear these traditional daggers with great pride. The daggers are usually on display in the front of the shop. 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.

AZAL CITY: BEST SOUVENIR SHOP IN SANA'A

by DAO

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.

WHEELBARROWS IN THE MARKET: CACTUS FRUIT

by DAO

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.

VARIOUS SOUVENIR SHOPS: BUY YOUR OWN JAMBIYA

by DAO

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.

World Friend: Silver and gems and jambias

by YankeeGal

Kamal, his father and family have been running this precious jewelry shop for almost thirty years. Nestled in the silver district of Sana'a's historic Old City, visitors are made welcome with gracious smiles and open arms. Black pearls, agate, amber, silver, gold- all sorts of shiney things!

ARTIGIANATO/ COSA COMPERARE?

by grazy56

il paese non conosce ancora l'invasione turistica di massa quindi non sperate di trovare un artigianato studiato per i turisti. Attenzione ai problemi doganali per le antichità: informarsi prima!LA DJAMBIA: pugnale a lama curva, il prezzo varia a secondo se nuovo o antico, se il manico è di corno di rinoceronte, d'avorio (rarissimo), di pietre semi preziose, d'argento finemente cisellato o se la sua custodia e/o cintura sono particolarmente decorate. I più bei pezzi si vendono nei suq di Sana'a , Saada o Taez. Meno ricurvo, la DHUMA è il pugnale della gente dell'Hadramaut. In versione lunga: il SABIQI, è la sciabola dei beduini della regione di Marib.%vrGIOIELLI ANTICHI D'ARGENTO: ora difficilmente reperibili, una volta fabricati dagli artigiani ebrei ma le donne yemenite oggi giorno preferiscono l'oro.PIETRE SEMI PREZIOSE: ogni gioielleria è come una caverna di Ali Baba: ambra, corallo,...

ARTISANAT/ QUOI ACHETER?

by grazy56

le pays ne connaissant pas encore le tourisme de masse il vous sera difficile de trouver de l'artisanat spécialment conçu pour les touristes. Bien s'informer si vous voulez exporter des antiquités.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...

CRAFT/WHAT TO BUY?

by grazy56

as not so many tourists you will have difficulties to find crafts make for tourism. If you want to buy antiques just follow the rules.DJAMBLIA: this traditional dagger is the most important part of the traditional Yemenite clothes. The price depends if antique or not, of the handle ( ivory, silver, precious stones…) and of the scabbard and the belt who can be decorated also with precious stone, silver… you can find the best one on Sana'a, Saada and Taez.DHUMA: dagger different than the djamblia and used on Hadramout peopleSABIQI: sword uses by Bedouin tribe on Marib areaANTIQUES & SILVER JEWELRY: difficult to find them once upon a time Jude fabricated them but now Yemenite women prefer gold itemsSEMI PRECIOUS STONES: just have a look on a jewelry and you will find as on Ali Baba cavern!MORE: basket-making, big hat from Hadramaout and Tihama areas, antique coins, woven, alabaster oil...

Al Bahlawan: Inside Bab Al-Yemen

by nartjies

This shop had the best shawls we came across and because we stayed there so long buying for our extended family back home, they offered us qat!! Qat is a plant/leaves which can be chewed for hours producing a slight '"high'" effect on the brain, almost everybody in yemen is happily chewing QAT))) Small structures of the old city which is very pretty with white walls and brown roofs.Shawls, scarves,etc Least expensive.

----: Arabic Jewelry

by Pakistaniguy