Hadibu

{{Infobox settlement   |name = Hadibu |other_name = |native_name = {{native name|ar|حديبو}} |nickname = |settlement_type = town |motto =  | image_skyline = {{Photomontage | photo1a = Mosque, Hadibo, Socotra Island (11007460353).jpg | photo2a = Fishing boats (6408221503).jpg | photo2b = Hadibo Sunset, Socotra Island (14913501313).jpg | photo3a = Hotel (6408228413).jpg | photo3b = Motorcycle (6408177349).jpg | size = 280 | spacing = 2 | color = transparent | border = 0 }} |image_caption = Clockwise from top: Mosque in Hadibu, Hadibu sunset, A street in Hadibu, Hotel in Hadibu, fishing boats on coastline |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Yemen |pushpin_label_position = top |pushpin_mapsize = 280 |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Yemen |pushpin_relief = 1  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{YEM}} |subdivision_type1 = Governorate |subdivision_name1 = Socotra |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name2 = Hadibu |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = | |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref = Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 =  |area_land_km2 =   |population_total= 8,545 |population_as_of = 2004 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title = Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  |timezone = Arabia Standard Time |utc_offset = +03:00 |timezone_DST = (Not Observed) |coordinates = {{coord|12|39|N|54|01|E|region:YE|display=inline}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }} '''Hadibu'''{{efn|{{langx|ar|حديبو}} {{Transliteration|ar|Ḥadībū}}}}{{efn-num| formerly known as '''Tamrida''' ({{langx|ar|links=no|تمريدة}})}} is the largest town and administrative capital of Socotra Governorate, a governorate of Yemen. It is situated on the northeastern coast of Socotra in the Socotra Archipelago. It hosts the main airport and sea port serving the island, making it the primary gateway. It is the seat of Hidaybū, the larger eastern district of Socotra's two administrative districts. The Soqotri language, an unwritten Semitic language, is widely spoken.

== History == In 2008, stone tools used by early ''Homo erectus'' have been discovered near Hadibu, and suggests possible habitation dating back to more than a million years. While navigation and trade with the islands existed for centuries, the Indians landed in the islands in the 4th century BCE, before it was captured by the Greeks. In the 1st century CE, its inhabitants included Arabs, Indians and Greeks, and was ruled by the king of Hadramaut. In 52 CE, St. Thomas came to the island and converted the islanders to Christianity.<ref name="Hist">{{cite web|url=https://socotra.info/chronology-of-socotra.html|title=Chronology of Socotra|work=Socotra.info|access-date=17 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309021204/https://socotra.info/chronology-of-socotra.html#.WqHtdrrP32c|archive-date=9 March 2018}}</ref>

In the later years, the island lost its commercial importance. In the 15th Century, it came under the rule of Shihr. In 1507 CE, the Portuguese fleet commanded by Tristao da Cunha and Afonso de Albuquerque killed the local Mahri ruler, and established a garrison. In 1511, Portuguese withdraw from Soqotra, and the British East India Company arrived in Hadibo in April 1608. The British used the island for the next few centuries, using it as a base to seize Aden in 1839. In 1876, a treaty was signed between Britain and the local Sultan. During the Second World War, the allies used it as a base. In 1967, it became part of the independent South Yemen, before it became part of Yemen Republic in the 1990s.<ref name="Hist"/>

== Geography and demographics == Hadibu is situated on the northeastern coast of Socotra in the Socotra Archipelago. It is the capital and seat of the Socotra Governorate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2socotra.com/place/hadibu-the-capital-of-socotra/|title=Hadibu, the capital of Socotra|work=Socotra|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> It was earlier known as Tamrida.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHxsWspxGIIC&dq=Qishn,+jemen&pg=PA361|author=E. J. van Donzel|title=Islamic desk reference|page=361}}</ref> The town is densely populated, with estimates putting the population at 90,000 inhabitants in 2020. However, due to large migration from mainland Yemen due to the Yemeni civil war, the population is estimated to have gone up to 150,000 since the early 2020s.<ref name="Carnegie">{{cite web|url=https://carnegieendowment.org/middle-east/diwan/2020/01/photo-essay-socotra-out-of-one-cyclone-and-into-another?lang=en|title=Socotra, Out of One Cyclone and Into Another|work=Carnegie Endowment|date=January 2020|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref><ref name="IWMF">{{cite web|url=https://www.iwmf.org/reporting/the-island-of-myth-and-longing/|title=The Island of Myth and Longing|date=10 January 2024|work=IWMF|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> The Soqotri language, an unwritten Semitic language, is widely spoken in the island.<ref name="Carnegie"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/safeguarding-soqotri-language-first-workshop-unified-alphabet|title=Soqotri language workshop|work=UNESCO|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref>

== Infrastructure == Some early infrastructure projects such as roads, elementary schools, and clinics were built in the 1970s.<ref name="Hist"/> While modern houses have been built in the 2020s, the city still has a lot of unfinished houses and bare structures housing its overcrowded population.<ref name="Carnegie"/><ref name="IWMF"/> The town is the location of the island's airport and major seaport, making it a key getaway.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/document/123001|title=Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref> Early air communication was established with Aden in the 1970s.<ref name="Hist"/> Socotra Airport is located about {{convert|12|km|abbr=on}} west of Hadibu.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://adds.aviationweather.gov/metars/stations.txt|title=aviationweather.gov|publisher=|access-date=2018-05-03|archive-date=2010-01-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114182203/http://adds.aviationweather.gov/metars/stations.txt|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Notes == {{Notelist}} {{reflist|group=note}}

==References== <references/> {{coord|12|39|N|54|01|E|display=title|region:YE_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki}}

Category:Socotra Governorate Category:Populated places in Socotra Category:Populated coastal places in Yemen Category:Towns in Yemen