Aden

Aden عَدَنْ 𐩲𐩵𐩬
Temporary capital and City
Clockwise from top: Aban Mosque in Crater, Queen Victoria Statue, Port of Aden, Abyan Beach, Crater District, Mualla District
Aden districts map
Aden Location in Yemen
Coordinates: 12°48′N 45°02′E / 12.800°N 45.033°E / 12.800; 45.033
Country	Yemen
Region	Aden Region
Governorate	Aden
First settled[1]	7th century BC
British occupation	19 January 1829
Aden Settlement	1829
Province of Aden	1932–1937
Colony of Aden	1 April 1937
State of Aden within the FSA	18 January 1963
Independence	30 November 1967
Government
• Governor	Dr. Ahmed Lamlas
• Governing body	Aden Local Council
• Aden Police Director	Maj Gen Mutahar Al-Shuaibi
Area
• Total	760 km2 (290 sq mi)
Elevation	6 m (20 ft)
Population  (2017)[2]
• Total	863,000
• Estimate  (2023)[3]	1,079,670
• Density	1,135.52/km2 (2,941.0/sq mi)
Demonym	Adeni/Adenies
Ethnicities
• Majority	Arabs
• Minorities	Afro-Arabs, Indians, Somalis
Languages
• Official	Arabic MSA (Education and Government)
• Spoken	Adeni Arabic (Majority) English[4][5] (Widely used) Hindi,[6] Somali[7] (minorities)
Time zone	UTC+3 (AST)
Area code	02

Aden (Arabic: عَدَنْ, romanized: ʿAdan, Old South Arabian: 𐩲𐩵𐩬) is a port city located in Yemen in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, positioned near the eastern approach to the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 170 km (110 mi) east of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait and north of the Gulf of Aden. With its strategic location on the coastline, Aden serves as a gateway between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, making it a crucial maritime hub connecting Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. As of 2023, Aden City has a population of approximately 1,080,000 residents, making it one of the largest cities in Yemen.^[8] Aden is divided into eight districts: Tawahi, Mualla, Crater, Khur Maksar, Al Mansura, Dar Sad, Sheikh Othman, and Al Buraiqa. These form today's Aden Governorate. During British Colonialism, Aden referred to the area along the north coast of the Gulf of Aden, encompassing Tawahi, Mualla, Crater, and much of Khur Maksar District. The western harbor peninsula, known as Little Aden, now falls within the Al Buraiqa District.

Before gaining independence, Aden comprised distinct sub-centers: Crater, the original port; Ma'alla, the modern port; Tawahi, formerly "Steamer Point"; and Gold Mohur resorts. Khormaksar, on the isthmus connecting Aden to the mainland, hosts diplomatic missions, Aden University's main offices, and Aden International Airport. On the mainland, sub-centers include Sheikh Othman, an old oasis area; Al-Mansura, a British-planned town; and Madinat ash-Sha'b (formerly Madinat al-Ittihad), the former capital of the South Arabian Federation, now housing a large power/desalination facility and additional Aden University faculties.

Aden encloses the eastern side of a vast, natural harbour that constitutes the modern port. A long time ago this necessitated the existence of Aden's reservoirs, the Cisterns of Tawila. As described by 14th century scholar Ibn Battuta, "These reservoirs accumulate rainwater for the sole purpose of drinking for the city's citizens." Little Aden became the site of the oil refinery and tanker port. Both were established and operated by British Petroleum until they were turned over to South Yemeni government ownership and control in 1978.

Aden used to be the capital of South Yemen until its unity with North Yemen in 22 May 1990. It is currently the temporary capital of Yemen since the 2014 Coup d'état, hosting some members of the Cabinet of Yemen mainly in al-Maashiq Palace. It is also the seat of the secessionist Southern Transitional Council, which exercises control over the city.^[9]