Southern Arabian Peninsula Research Articles

Investigation of Dust‐Induced Direct Radiative Forcing Over the Arabian Peninsula Based on High‐Resolution WRF‐Chem Simulations

AbstractThis study investigates the impact of dust on radiation over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) during the reported high, low, and normal dust seasons (March–August) of 2012, 2014, and 2015, respectively. Simulations were performed using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled to a Chemistry module (WRF‐Chem). The simulated seasonal horizontal and vertical dust concentrations, and their interannual distinctions, match well with those from two ground‐based AERONET observations, and measurements from MODIS and CALIOP satellites. The maximum dust concentrations over the dust‐source regions in the southern AP reach vertically upto 700 hPa during the high dust season, but only upto 900–950 hPa during the low/normal dust seasons. Stronger incoming low‐level winds along the southern Red Sea and those from Iraq bring in higher‐than‐normal dust during the high dust summers. We conducted a sensitivity experiment by switching‐off the dust module to assess the radiative perturbations due to dust. The results suggest that active dust‐module improved the fidelity of simulated radiation fluxes distributions at the surface and top of the atmosphere vis‐à‐vis Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) measurements. Dust results in a 26 Wm−2 short‐wave (SW) radiative forcing in the tropospheric‐column over the AP. The SW radiative forcing increases by another 6–8 Wm−2 during the high dust season due to the increased number of extreme dust days, which also amplifies atmospheric heating. During extreme dust days, the heating rate exhibits a dipolar structure, with cooling over the Iraq region and warming of 40%–60% over the southern‐AP.

Factors affecting Asiatic caracal occupancy and activity in an arid landscape; vegetation, prey and predator presence are key

Predator populations persisting in desert landscapes may be especially vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and changing climates, but many are chronically understudied and at risk of extirpation. The Asiatic subspecies of caracal, Caracal caracal schmitzi, inhabit the mountainous landscapes of the western and southern Arabian Peninsula, but they are thought to be in decline across the region. In Saudi Arabia, a recent extensive study used camera traps and face-to-face questionnaires to survey Arabian leopards and other medium- to large-size mammals, simultaneously generating vast bycatch data on Asiatic caracal presence. We assessed interspecific temporal overlap and identified factors that influence caracal occupancy, and predict their potential distribution across their historical range in Saudi Arabia. From fourteen camera trap surveys, 497 independent captures of caracals were recorded at only the nine south-western sites. Occupancy modelling showed caracals occurred in areas with higher gross primary productivity and elevations, as well as with a higher relative abundance of free-roaming cats and dogs, striped hyaena, and wild prey. Higher abundances of large predators decreased detection of caracals. Caracals displayed a cathemeral activity pattern with peaks of activity around sunrise and sunset, and had a high diel overlap with free-roaming cats and dogs, and wild Arabian wolves. Predictive modelling identified the south western mountains as a stronghold for Asiatic caracals, with low occupancy or recent extirpation in the north and elsewhere, and was highly congruous with predictions from false-positive occupancy modelling from 843 questionnaires. The persistence of caracal populations is likely driven by the increased vegetation and wild prey associated with the southern regions, as well as a more frequent human presence that potentially increases availability of alternative prey, including free-roaming cats. Caracals persisting in dry and desert regions may be particularly vulnerable to climatic changes affecting vegetation and prey abundance, but may have the ability to adapt and benefit from limited human presence if conflict can be avoided.

Geophysical monitoring of the groundwater resources in the Southern Arabian Peninsula using satellite gravity data

In recent decades, geophysical and remote sensing monitoring techniques have advanced to the point where they can be utilized. It is possible to investigate the spatiotemporal mass fluctuations induced by groundwater changes over the Southern Arabian Peninsula (SAP) by combining time-variable gravity data with land surface model outputs and rainfall data. Here are the findings: The average annual precipitation rates for the whole study region were 91.11, 87.6, and 96.61 mm yr−1 during the entire period (2002–2021), period before 2013, and period after 2012, respectively. The southern and eastern parts (Zone I) of the investigated region show modest rainfall rates of 109.6, 105, and 117 mm yr−1 during the whole period, period before 2013, and period after 2012, respectively. The Rub El Khali region (Zone II) is receiving lower precipitation rates of 54.6, 53.3, and 56.5 mm yr−1 throughout the whole period, period before 2013, and period after 2012, respectively. Based on the three distinct gravity solutions, the average Terrestrial Water Storage (ΔTWS) values are computed through the entire period to be − 0.21 ± 0.011, − 0.15 ± 0.013, and − 0.32 ± 0.0107 cm yr−1 for the whole study region, Zone of the southern and eastern regions, and Zone of Rub El Khali, respectively. The whole study region, Zone of the southern and eastern parts, and Zone of Rub El Khali are showing highly negative ΔTWS in the period before 2013, in comparison to slightly negative to slightly positive ΔTWS trends in period after 2012. The average annual change in groundwater storage for the entire study area was calculated at − 0.21 ± 0.011, − 0.29 ± 0.024, and − 0.091 ± 0.038 cm yr−1 throughout the investigated period, period before 2013, and period after 2012, respectively. Zone of Rub El Khali is showing higher negative groundwater storage trend (ΔGWS) averaged at − 0.32 ± 0.104 cm yr−1 throughout the investigated period, whereas Zone of southern and eastern regions is showing lower negative groundwater storage trend of − 0.15 ± 0.013 cm yr−1. Most of the recharge rate occurs in Zone of the southern and eastern regions reaching up to + 0.77 ± 0.092 cm yr−1 by taking the average groundwater withdrawal rate of + 0.92 ± 0.092 cm yr−1 during the whole period. This integrated approach is a valuable and economical method for more effectively assessing the variations of groundwater resources across wide areas.

Dust sources over the Arabian Peninsula

This study explores the characteristics of crucial dust sources and changes in their emissions over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) over the 2000–2022 period using high-resolution dust aerosol optical depth data from the Moderate Resolution Imagining Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol measurements onboard Terra and Aqua platforms. The MODIS dust retrievals successfully unravel the hitherto-unexplored key dust source regions and spatial heterogeneity in dust emissions. Critically, MODIS-defined dust sources display a robust geomorphological signature. In Iraq, the Tigris and Euphrates River basins contain extensive dust sources; the Euphrates dust sources are stronger and more widespread. Localized dust sources are noticed over Syria. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), the eastern province particularly facilitates extensive dust activity. Oman is the prominent dust source in the southern AP due to the presence of intruding sand dunes. Dust emissions in the Iraq and KSA regions exhibit a significant negative correlation with the Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index, a drought index, establishing that the local droughts enhance the dust emissions in these regions. The recent sustained droughts from 2008 to 2013 caused a remarkable escalation in the dust emissions in these regions through the modification of land surface conditions.

Formation and reorganization time scales of aeolian landscapes

AbstractLandscapes created through sediment transport are shaped by the interaction of flow and form. In landscapes where wind is the agent of geomorphic work, this is clear at the small scale; equilibrium dune morphology is linked to the wind climate and the supply of sediment. At larger scales, this linkage becomes ambiguous because the form of giant dunes and dune fields integrates long histories of varied wind and sand supply. Without a framework to assess aeolian landscape evolution at this scale, the time taken to form and reorganize dune fields has been largely unexplored quantitatively. We show that these time scales can be understood by linking modern wind and topographic data sets for one of the most expansive and morphologically diverse unvegetated dune fields, the Rub’ al Khali (southern Arabian Peninsula). By linking sediment flux to the surface area and slope of dunes, and growth to the divergence in that flux, we fully couple form and flow at the dune field scale. Our results show quantitatively how dune field formation and reorganization are outpaced by climate change and the implications for stratigraphic interpretation.

On the Middle East's severe dust storms in spring 2022: Triggers and impacts

Large amounts of dust in the air can disrupt daily activities and pose a threat to human health. In May 2022, consecutive major dust storms occurred over the Middle East resulting in severe environmental, social and health impacts. In this study, we investigate the exceptional factors driving these storms and the effects of the dust clouds. Using a combination of satellite, in-situ and reanalysis datasets, we identify the atmospheric triggers for the occurrence of these severe dust storms, characterize their three-dimensional structure and evaluate the dust radiative impact. The dust emission was promoted by density currents emanating from deep convection over Turkey. The convective systems were triggered by cut-off lows from mid-latitudes fed by moisture from African atmospheric rivers. Data from the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) showed that the dust clouds were transported southward at 4 km in altitudes but sunk to ground levels when they reached the southern Arabian Peninsula due to strong subsidence. At a station in coastal UAE, the dust caused a 350 W m−2 drop in the surface downward shortwave flux and a 70 W m−2 increase in the longwave one during the dust episodes. This contributed to a 9 °C increase in nighttime temperatures which exacerbated the effects of the heat for the population. The newly highlighted mechanism for dust emission in the Middle East, in which a cut-off low interacts with an atmospheric river, as well as direct observations of the dust impact on the radiative budget can contribute to reducing associated uncertainties in climate models.

Desert dunes transformed by end-of-century changes in wind climate

Sand dunes in arid regions are conspicuous mobile landforms that require adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect human infrastructure and economic assets from encroachment, and play a substantial role in desertification and atmospheric dust emissions. Here we show how the shape, migration speed and direction of mobile desert dunes globally are projected to change by 2100, in response to sand-moving wind regime shifts associated with climate change under the shared socio-economic pathway SSP5-8.5 (SSP, shared socio-economic pathway) scenario. We find transformations in dune dynamics for many sand seas and dune fields across the Sahara, The Horn of Africa, the Southern Arabian Peninsula, South Asia, China and Australia—as well as an increased potential for sand sea expansion and reactivation of dormant dune fields—linked to climate change alterations in the Hadley circulation, extra-tropical cyclone activity and monsoon systems. These projected changes will affect planning for and management of dune encroachment on transportation infrastructure, industry and urban development in desert regions.

Glycemic effects of <em>Catha edulis</em>

More than 20 million people in the East African horn and the southern Arabian Peninsula chew khat (Catha edulis) on a daily basis. The glycemic effect of khat chewing, regardless of diabetes status, is still being debated. Using studies from countries where chewing khat is common, we attempted to discuss the potential glycemic effects of Catha edulis in humans and some animal models. This review included a thorough search in PubMed and the Cochrane Library using PRISMA guidelines, with words like (Khat) and (Qat) serving as query indicators for (diabetes) and (glucose), with no language or species restrictions. Khat is chewed for its stimulating and enjoyable properties. Despite a relatively small number of studies on khat’s glycemic effect, the debate continues. Many studies have linked the glycemic effect of khat leaves to their freshness and the duration of the stimulant effect. Although only in animal models, khat’s destructive effect on pancreatic -cells could cause some dysglycemic effects. The cathinone cannot be blamed for the glycemic effect.

The Enigma of Mehri and Southern Peninsular Arabic Existential śī and šī

Abstract The Modern South Arabian languages and the many varieties of Arabic share in the functions of a particle, realised in the largest extant MSA language, Mehri, as si and variously in Arabic as šay(y), še, ši and ši. In the Modern South Arabian languages and in the Arabic varieties of southern Arabian Peninsula, si and reflexes of ši serve as existential particles with a meaning analogous to English ‘there is/was’. The doublet si/ši also performs other grammatical operations in both sets of languages, functioning as partitives, polar interrogatives and as expressing the various meanings of ‘thing’. This similarity of form and function in Arabic and MSA suggests borrowing from one language to the other, although shared inheritance cannot be discounted completely. The assumption about Arabic reflexes of ši is that their grammatical functions derive originally from that word for ‘thing’ (of which there are others in both languages). Similarly, the assumption has been that MSA si is borrowed from the same Arabic word. Nevertheless, the analogous usages between Mehri and Arabic give cause to reassess such assumptions, leading to the opposite conclusion: The borrowing proceeded from MSA to Arabic and the substantive meaning is the end form, not the origin.

Reduction of Spectral Radiance Reflectance During the Annular Solar Eclipse of 21 June 2020 Observed by EPIC

The annular solar eclipse on 21 June 2020 passed over desert areas (parts of Central and Eastern Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula), partly cloudy regions (parts of South Asia and the Himalayas), and the mostly cloudy region in East Asia. Moving around the Earth-Sun Lagrange point 1 (L1), the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) instrument on the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft captured three sets of images of the sunlit Earth during the eclipse, allowing us to study the impact of the solar eclipse on reflected solar radiation when the underlying surface and/or cloudy conditions in the Moon’s shadow are quite different. We analyzed EPIC images acquired during the 21 June 2020 and 21 August 2017 eclipses. We found that (1) EPIC-observed average spectral as well as spectrally averaged reflectance reductions of the entire sunlit Earth during the 21 June 2020 solar eclipse are distinctly different from those during the total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017; (2) the reduction of spectral reflectance depends strongly on underlying reflector properties, including the brightness, the area coverage of each reflector in the penumbra and the average distance to the center of the Moon’s shadow.

The unexpectedly short Holocene Humid Period in Northern Arabia

The early to middle Holocene Humid Period led to a greening of today’s arid Saharo-Arabian desert belt. While this phase is well defined in North Africa and the Southern Arabian Peninsula, robust evidence from Northern Arabia is lacking. Here we fill this gap with unprecedented annually to sub-decadally resolved proxy data from Tayma, the only known varved lake sediments in Northern Arabia. Based on stable isotopes, micro-facies analyses and varve and radiocarbon dating, we distinguish five phases of lake development and show that the wet phase in Northern Arabia from 8800–7900 years BP is considerably shorter than the commonly defined Holocene Humid Period (~11,000–5500 years BP). Moreover, we find a two century-long peak humidity at times when a centennial-scale dry anomaly around 8200 years BP interrupted the Holocene Humid Period in adjacent regions. The short humid phase possibly favoured Neolithic migrations into Northern Arabia representing a strong human response to environmental changes.

Unprecedented Insights on Chemical and Biological Significance of Euphorbia cactus Growing in Saudi Arabia.

Euphorbia cactus Ehrenb ex Boiss. is a plant species reported from central Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula, belonging to the family of Euphorbiaceae. The plant has ethnobotanical values and is well-known for its milky latex, which has been turned into medicine to treat various ailments. To the best of our knowledge, there have been no literature reports available on phytochemical constituents and antiproliferative mechanism of E. cactus. In the current study, the phytochemical investigation of E. cactus methanolic extract (ECME) resulted in the isolation and characterization of four secondary metabolites, which are reported for the first time from this plant species. In addition, the results of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and ferrous ion chelating (FIC) assays expressed maximum antioxidant activity by ECME and the isolated phytochemicals. Furthermore, ECME exerted a promising antiproliferative effect against different cancer cell lines, and the A549 lung cancer cells were the most sensitive with an IC50 value of 20 µg/mL. The antiproliferative action of ECME in A549 cells was associated with cell accumulation in the G2/M phase and an increase in early and late apoptosis. In addition, RT-PCR and western blot analysis revealed that ECME decreased the anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) expression, while the expression of pro-apoptotic (Bax) and caspase-3 were increased. This study provides the first insight into the phytochemical constituents and the antiproliferative mechanism of ECME, implying that it could be exploited as a promising natural source for developing new cancer therapies. Further preclinical research is warranted to support the current results.

Calculation of the Rub’ al Khali Sand Dune Volume for Estimating Potential Sand Sources

The Rub’ al Khali desert (or Empty Quarter) is the largest and perhaps most significant sand sea in the world. Located on the southern Arabian Peninsula, the dune field has remained largely unexplored owing to the harsh clime and difficult terrain. This study takes advantage of geospatial technology (interpolations, supervised classification, minimum focal statistic) to extract information from the data contained in global Digital Elevation Model (DEM)s, satellite imagery. The main objective here is to identify and map different dune forms within the sand sea, estimate the volume of sand and explore probable sources of sand. The analysis of dune color strongly suggests that the sand is not completely reworked and intermixed. If this is true, a spatial variability map of the mineral composition of the sand could be very revealing. The red sand is quite pronounced, the largest volume of sand (~36%) is associated with the yellow color class. Yellow sand covers most of the western part of the dunes field and seems to be a transitional color between red and white sand in the eastern part of the dune field. This suggests that the yellow sand might be derived from both local and regional sources, or it might be less oxidized, reworked, or have a different composition that represents a combination of red and white sand.

High‐Resolution Soil Moisture Evolution in Hyper‐Arid Regions: A Comparison of InSAR, SAR, Microwave, Optical, and Data Assimilation Systems in the Southern Arabian Peninsula

AbstractWe present an analysis of a 3‐year time series of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery covering the southern Arabian Peninsula, spanning two devastating typhoons that impacted the region in 2018. The limited vegetation and precipitation in the area allows for clear separation of soil moisture changes from other factors that typically also affect microwave imagery. We generate soil moisture proxies from Interferometric SAR (InSAR) coherence and compare them with a range of other soil moisture products. We estimate the decay timescale over which the surface returns to its pre‐storm state for each event and data type, and find that the radar coherence‐based timescales tend to be longer than those for the other products. We also find that the coherence‐based timescales of the two events differ from each other in a manner that is consistent with seasonal temperature fluctuations and the total rainfall that occurred each time. The higher spatial resolution of the InSAR coherence results and differing sensitivity to the vertical distribution of soil moisture complements the other more temporally dense products, particularly in regions of high heterogeneity along the edge of the storm and within regions where the surface properties change dramatically over small spatial scales. As the frequency and strength of tropical cyclones increase, and as already scarce water resources are utilized further in arid regions, InSAR coherence data constitutes another tool that researchers can use to expand our understanding of these challenges.

Desert Locust Stopped by Tibetan Highlands during the 2020 Upsurge

Desert locust is an important pest to agriculture. In 2019–2020, a major upsurge originated in the southern Arabian Peninsula and gradually spread to east Africa, then to south-west Asia, as far as Pakistan and India, even reaching Nepal, resulting in major agricultural losses. For the first time, a few swarms entered southern Tibet. Using field observations and experiments, we studied their path to the Tibetan plateau and their behavior at these very high altitudes. The locusts moved up the Tibetan valleys from low-lying areas (1700 m) to much higher elevations (5400 m). The low temperatures and high humidity put them under severe stress; their activities were limited, and they did not survive long or produce local offspring. It is clear that the high-altitude environmental conditions in the Himalayan mountains provided an important natural barrier that limited the northward expansion of the desert locust populations.

Seasonal simulations of summer aerosol optical depth over the Arabian Peninsula using WRF‐Chem: Validation, climatology, and variability

AbstractThis study investigates the climatology and variability of summer aerosol optical depth (AOD) over the Arabian Peninsula (AP) using a long‐term high‐resolution Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with the chemistry module (WRF‐Chem) simulation, available ground‐based and satellite observations, and reanalysis products from 2008 to 2018. The simulated spatial distribution of the summer AOD agrees well with the satellite observations and reanalysis over the AP, with spatial correlation coefficients of 0.81/0.83/0.89 with MODIS‐A/MODIS‐T/MERRA‐2, respectively. Higher values of summertime AOD are broadly found over the eastern AP regions and the southern Red Sea and minima over the northern Red Sea and northwest AP, consistent with observational datasets. The WRF‐Chem simulation suggests that the two regions of high AOD are associated with dust advected from the Tigris–Euphrates by the northwesterly summer Shamal wind in the eastern AP and from the African Sahara via Sudan by westerly winds through the Tokar Gap for the southern AP. The high AOD over the south‐central east AP is due to locally generated dust by the action of northerly winds, modulated by variations in relative humidity, vertical motion, soil moisture, and soil temperature over the desert regions. The vertical extent of this dust is primarily driven by upward motion triggered by thermal convection over the local source region. In terms of interannual variability, summer AOD exhibits significant year‐to‐year variations over the AP region. In particular, enhanced (reduced) AOD over the southern AP (Persian Gulf) is observed during La Niña conditions, favoured by stronger (weaker) Tokar westerly (northwesterly summer Shamal) winds.HighlightsThis study evaluated the long‐term simulations of AOD using high resolution WRF‐Chem model over the AP.WRF‐Chem successfully simulated the summer AOD climatology and its variability.Potential driving factors of summer AOD loading over the AP is explored.Summer AOD variability in the AP is mainly driven by northern Shamal winds and westerly Tokar winds.Enhanced (reduced) AOD over the southern AP (Arabian Gulf) is observed during La Niña conditions.

The atmospheric controls of extreme convective events over the southern Arabian Peninsula during the spring season

Mesoscale Convective Systems (MCSs) over the southern Arabian Peninsula are more common during the spring months of March and April. In this paper, the processes behind such severe convective events and their local-scale impacts are investigated using reanalysis data, satellite-derived and observational products. The analysis of 95 MCS events from 2000 to 2020 revealed that they are triggered by low-level wind convergence and moisture advection from the Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf and/or Red Sea. An equatorward displacement and strengthening of the subtropical jet also precondition the environment, as does the presence of a mid-level trough. The latter is generally part of a large-scale pattern of anomalies that are equivalent barotropic in nature, and therefore likely a response to tropical or subtropical forcing. At more local-scale, a drying of the mid-troposphere between 850 and 250 hPa typically by 50%, a reduction of the upper-level winds by about 5 m s−1, and an increase in the upper-tropospheric temperature on average by 2–3 K, are typically observed during MCS events. Over the 21-year period, a statistically significant increase in the MCSs' duration over southeast Arabian Peninsula has been found, suggesting that such extreme events may be even more impactful in a warming world.

Classification of weather clusters over the Middle East associated with high atmospheric dust-AODs in West Iran

Daily aerosol optical depth (AOD) and meteorological fields obtained from Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) and ERA-Interim reanalysis, respectively are used to analyze spatial patterns of AOD in the west part of Iran during the period 2003–2012. The areas affected by high daily AODs in southwest and west/northwest parts of Iran are identified using principal component analysis (PCA) and the atmospheric circulation patterns for these high AODs are classified in six clusters for each region, with larger frequencies in spring and summer. Despite their between differences, the weather clusters are mostly associated with a strong westerly/northwesterly flow (Shamal wind) across the Iraqi plains and southwest Iran from May to September, which is triggered by the pressure gradient between the North Africa/Mediterranean high and the monsoon low over southeast Iran. In the cold season, the pressure gradient between the Kurdi cut-off low and the high pressure over North Africa facilitates frontal dust storms that enhance the dust AOD over the west parts of Iran. The Caspian Sea high-pressure system during summer intensifies the easterly-northeasterly winds from the Karakum Desert to northwest Iran, while in winter, the strengthening of the Siberian High and its expansion over the Caspian Sea trigger strong cold northerlies over central/northwest Iran. In addition, the convergence of south/southwesterly winds, as a result of the surface low-pressure in the southern Arabian Peninsula, facilitates pre-frontal dust storms toward southwestern Iran, mostly during March–April. In summer, the gradient zone between the Iraq low-pressure and the Zagros high-pressure enables transport of dust aerosols toward west-northwest Iran. Identification of the weather clusters associated with intense dust storms over the west part of Iran is critical for the prevention of the deleterious effects of dust on climate, ecosystems and human health.

Improved lithospheric attenuation structure of the Arabian Peninsula through the use of national network data

We characterize the attenuation structure of the Arabian Peninsula through the measurement of regional phase amplitudes. High-resolution is achieved by combining stations from global networks with national network data through the cooperative effort of several countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait. The result is an improved attenuation model of the crust and upper mantle for a broad frequency band that extends from 0.5 to 10 Hz. The observed attenuation is in accordance with various elements of earth structure, including plate boundary type, style of tectonism, thermo-tectonic age, and temperature. Emerging features from the model include details in the structure along the Red Sea, and improved imaging of the southern Arabian Peninsula extending north from the Gulf of Aden. The resulting attenuation model can be employed for better magnitude estimates, in isolating tectonic and structural features, and in characterizing strong ground motion in the Arabian Peninsula.

The Belt and Road Initiative: New Driving Force for Sino-Yemen Relationship

The Republic of Yemen (North Yemen) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) established diplomatic relations in 1956, the first Arabian Peninsula country to recognise the PRC as the legitimate representative of the country. Yemen is a significant and strategically important state in the southern Arabian Peninsula bordering Saudi Arabia, Oman, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden within the Arabian Sea (Behbehani. 1985. China and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen). The geographical location of Yemen makes it an essential state for the PRC because it enables it an observation point over three regional trouble spots: the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea, and the Horn of Africa. Thus, Yemen can become the bridge between Asia and Africa, and between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean, and a vital component of China’s Silk Road Strategy. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could be used as a new driving force for the Sino-Yemen relationship, especially the integration between the state’s post-war reconstruction and the realization of the initiative.