Al Luḩayyah

Al Luḩayyah
Al Luḩayyah Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 15°23′0″N 42°33′37″E / 15.38333°N 42.56028°E / 15.38333; 42.56028
Country	Yemen
Governorate	Al Hudaydah
	2,656
Time zone	Yemen Standard Time (UTC+3)

Al Luḩayyah (also known as Luhayyah, Loheia, Luhaiyah, or Loheiya) is a town on the Tihamah coastal plain, Yemen. It is located at around 15°42′14″N 42°41′31″E / 15.70389°N 42.69194°E / 15.70389; 42.69194Coordinates: 15°42′14″N 42°41′31″E / 15.70389°N 42.69194°E / 15.70389; 42.69194. The port lies 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Al Luḩayyah, partially protected by the offshore island of Al-Urmak.

History

According to local tradition the town grew up around the dwelling and tomb of a holy man, Sheikh Salei, and developed from around the mid-15th century into a substantial centre of the export trade in coffee. By the end of the 18th century it was a walled and well-fortified town. It was under the direction of the Emir Farhan when an expedition from Denmark visited the city and described their reception.^[1]

From about 1800 onwards Al Luḩayyah was a part of the Ottoman Empire, and in 1912 suffered damage during the Italo-Turkish War.^[2] It was captured in 1918 in a joint attack by the British Navy and forces loyal to the Idrisi rulers of Asir,^[3] under whose control it remained until 1925 when it again came under Yemeni authority. It was seized in spring 1934 by the Saudis, who returned it however in the same year under the Treaty of Al-Ta'if.^[4]

The town was formerly a trading centre of significance but has declined in the last two centuries, especially as seaborne traffic has moved to more modern facilities at Ahmadi, the port of Al Hudaydah. The population is estimated at under 3,000.^[5]

Notes