'ataq, Yemen

Capital City

Living in this remote Yemeni outpost means dealing with serious security concerns and harsh desert conditions. The town of 19,681 residents sits at 1,146 meters elevation in Yemen's Shabwah Governorate, where ongoing military conflicts have led to multiple changes in control, most recently in 2019 when forces loyal to the exiled president captured it from the Southern Transitional Council.

The stark desert landscape hosts a surprisingly developed urban core, with about half the buildings rising two stories and the population spread across most of the city area. While it has some amenities like the Shabwa Museum (showcasing important prehistoric artifacts), the Banata Specialist Hospital, and a traditional souk, residents contend with an unforgiving hot desert climate. The town's infrastructure struggles to keep pace with growth, though there are ongoing water development projects funded by international aid to support the population through 2025.