In addition to being the birthplace of many great scholars and righteous people of Islam, the blessed valley of Hadramawt is also the burial site of the Prophet Hud (peace be upon him).

	It is said that, before he died, the Prophet Hud's (peace be upon him) final words were: "hadara al-mawt" (death has arrived)...hence
	the valley is named: Hadramawt.

Geography

Dar al-Mustafa is located in the city of Tarim, Hadramawt. Hadramawt is a large region in southern Yemen that spans approximately 34,708 square miles (90,000 square km). Although the southern edge of Hadramawt borders the Arabian Sea, Tarim is located inland -- about 110 miles (176 km) from the coast.

The region is characterized by rocky plateaus that reach elevations of around 3000 ft. (900 m) and are separated by numerous valleys in between.

Climate

Hadramawt is a generally hot and dry part of the world. The average annual temperature is about 80º F (26.7º C), although during the summer months the high temperatures can reach well over 100º F (37.8º C). During the winter months, the average temperature will occasionally fall below 70º F (21.1º C). The average rainfall is quite low: approximately 2.9 in (73mm) per year. A few times throughout the year, however, Hadramawt will experience heavy rainfall that results in significant flooding.

Traveling to Dar al-Mustafa

A few major airlines provide flight service to Yemen. The closest airport to Tarim is located approximately 19 miles (30 km) away, in the city of Saiyun. Currently, the only international flights directly to Saiyun originate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Otherwise, travelers can fly to the capital city of San`aa, which is accessible from many of the world's major airports. Then one can either take another flight from San`aa to Saiyun, or travel by bus or car to Tarim from San`aa. It should be noted that the distance from San`aa to Tarim is approximately 335 miles (540 km) and driving time can from  6 to 8 hours.

Individuals with American or British passports will need a visa (either tourist or student) in order to enter Yemen. Please check with the Yemeni consulate in your region.

IMPORTANT: Please note that any western student who wishes to seek knowledge at Dar al-Mustafa should first apply to the program and only travel to Tarim after receiving admission. This will ensure that the student has a place reserved in Dar al-Mustafa and that the officials of the school will be prepared for the student's arrival. Traveling to Tarim to seek knowledge at Dar al-Mustafa unannounced may result in unnecessary difficulties for both the student and the coordinators at the school.

 

USEFUL LINKS:

For more information about flights within and to Yemen, please visit Yemenia Airlines at: http://www.yemenia.com.ye/

For more information about the social, political, and geographical conditions in Yemen, please visit: http://www.nic.gov.ye/