Al-Bayḍāʾ

Al-Bayḍāʾ, town, south-central Yemen. It is situated on a high plateau and, until the unification of the two Yemen states in 1990, was part of North Yemen (Sanaa), though it lay near the disputed frontier with South Yemen (Aden).

The town, formerly known as Bayḥān Umm Rusās, was the historic capital of the sultanate of Bayḥān (Beihan), which ruled over a wide area from the lifetime of Muḥammad (7th century ad) to the 16th century. In modern times, before delimitation of the frontier between North Yemen and South Yemen, the town and environs were considered to be part of the former British-controlled Aden Protectorate. On behalf of the protectorate, the British concluded a treaty (1934) with North Yemen, which provided that the frontier at the time of its signing should be accepted for a period of 40 years. Under the terms of this treaty, Al-Bayḍāʾ became part of North Yemen. There were frequent incursions from Al-Bayḍāʾ into territory claimed by successive governments based at Aden, because the status quo line had never been demarcated on the ground.

The area was not a traditional province of Yemen but was set up in 1949, primarily for political reasons. Teff, a cereal grain introduced into southern Arabia from Ethiopia, is produced in the area and marketed in the town; Al-Bayḍāʾ is also a horse-breeding centre. A road from Sanaa to Al-Bayḍāʾ was completed in 1979. Pop. (2004) 29,853.