How has Maʾrib changed over time?

The city of Maʾrib in north-central Yemen is known for the ancient city of Maʾrib, which was the center of the pre-Islamic kingdom of Sabaʾ (950–115 bce), and for its dam. Sabaean civilization prospered because of its location on caravan routes and its trade monopoly on frankincense and myrrh.

The Maʾrib Dam regulated water flow to irrigate the land. Improved over generations, it eventually collapsed in the 6th century ce. The contemporary city of Maʾrib is constructed partly from ancient Sabaean ruins. In 1984 the discovery of petroleum nearby made Maʾrib central to the country’s oil industry.

During the Yemeni Civil War that began in 2014, Maʾrib became the main military base in the north for the internationally backed government. Its relative security brought an influx of more than one million displaced Yemenis to Maʾrib governorate, primarily to Maʾrib city.