Shabwah

ancient city, Arabia

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July 13, 2026

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Shabwah was an ancient city in the Hadramaut region of Arabia, likely its wealthiest kingdom. This area, along with modern Oman's Dhofar province, was one of the few in Arabia where frankincense could be produced. Shabwah served as the capital where frankincense was collected and taxed before being transported to the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. The city was also a hub for Indian goods arriving by sea and then forwarded overland. Archaeological findings at Shabwah reveal a walled town with a magnificent palace, indicating its historical significance as a major trade center.1

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history of Arabia
Hadramites
…collected at the Hadramite capital, Shabwah, on the eastern fringe of the Ṣayhad sands, and taxed there before being handed over to the caravans that carried it to the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. In addition, Hadhramaut was an entrepôt for Indian goods brought by sea and then forwarded by land. The…
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…collected at the Hadramite capital, Shabwah, on the eastern fringe of the Ṣayhad sands, and taxed there before being handed over to the caravans that carried it to the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia. In addition, Hadhramaut was an entrepôt for Indian goods brought by sea and then forwarded by land. The…
Read More