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Yemen: A Journey to the gates of Arabia
From May 18, 2026 until May 23, 2026Check dates, opening times and entry conditions for each specific event.
MADRID
Casa Árabe headquarters (at Calle Alcalá, 62).
Check dates, opening times and entry conditions for each specific event.
In Madrid from May 18 to 23, Casa Árabe is hosting a comprehensive program of activities dedicated to Yemen, including round table discussions, conferences, book presentations, film screenings, an exhibition and a workshop for children. See the schedule below.
With its great diversity of landscapes, its age-old history, its rich traditions and its unique architecture, Yemen represents a fundamental part of Arab and Islamic natural and cultural heritage, often unknown or misunderstood in Spain and Europe.
Yemen: Journey to the gates of Arabia seeks to provide an opportunity to shine the spotlight on a country as fascinating as it is complex. The goal is to promote a deeper understanding of the reality of contemporary Yemen, beyond stereotypes and media coverage, which often focus solely on the ongoing conflict or the humanitarian crisis.
At the same time, the event is intended to act as a space for cultural exchange in which the Yemeni diaspora, experts on the country and the public can come together to share, learn and connect through history, art, architecture, photography, music and culinary specialties.
Within an increasingly interconnected global context, this initiative also aims to promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen the bonds of friendship between Yemen and Spain, and explore potential future forms of cooperation between the two countries.
The program was organized by Casa Árabe, the Embassy of Yemen in Spain and the Masarat Foundation.
The Masarat Foundation, the program’s sponsor, is a New York-based non-profit organization founded in 2025 that works to support women and girls in Yemen through education and access to decent work opportunities. Guided by the conviction that when women thrive, the entire community is strengthened, the foundation promotes safe and inclusive learning environments, cultural preservation, and basic health and food assistance through various programs at camps for internally displaced persons in southern Yemen, as well as in Egypt, where it supports the Yemeni diaspora. With this approach, Masarat seeks to help the Yemeni people cope with the consequences of war and contribute to building a more just and resilient post-war society.
Downloadable PDF program
Yemen: Journey to the gates of Arabia seeks to provide an opportunity to shine the spotlight on a country as fascinating as it is complex. The goal is to promote a deeper understanding of the reality of contemporary Yemen, beyond stereotypes and media coverage, which often focus solely on the ongoing conflict or the humanitarian crisis.
At the same time, the event is intended to act as a space for cultural exchange in which the Yemeni diaspora, experts on the country and the public can come together to share, learn and connect through history, art, architecture, photography, music and culinary specialties.
Within an increasingly interconnected global context, this initiative also aims to promote intercultural dialogue, strengthen the bonds of friendship between Yemen and Spain, and explore potential future forms of cooperation between the two countries.
The program was organized by Casa Árabe, the Embassy of Yemen in Spain and the Masarat Foundation.
The Masarat Foundation, the program’s sponsor, is a New York-based non-profit organization founded in 2025 that works to support women and girls in Yemen through education and access to decent work opportunities. Guided by the conviction that when women thrive, the entire community is strengthened, the foundation promotes safe and inclusive learning environments, cultural preservation, and basic health and food assistance through various programs at camps for internally displaced persons in southern Yemen, as well as in Egypt, where it supports the Yemeni diaspora. With this approach, Masarat seeks to help the Yemeni people cope with the consequences of war and contribute to building a more just and resilient post-war society.
Downloadable PDF program
SCHEDULE
Monday, March 18.
7:00 p.m. Welcome and opening remarks by
Muti’a Dammaj, Yemen’s Minister of Culture and Tourism;
Mustapha Noman, Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Aws Alawd, Yemen’s Ambassador to Spain;
Miguel Moro Aguilar, the General Director of Casa Árabe;
Vanessa Lago, Director of the Masarat Foundation
7:45 p.m. Opening event for the exhibition “Hadramaut: Persistence and memory”
Photographs by Vanessa Lago.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
5:00 p.m. Round table discussion: “Yemen in Context: Local, regional and humanitarian dynamics of a complex conflict”
Ignacio Gutiérrez de Terán, a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid’s Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies (UAM);
Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, a researcher from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies;
Yousef Al Dubai, a Yemeni writer and poet who authored From Yemen to Spain
Moderated by: Leyla Hamad, an associate researcher at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CEARC).
7:00 p.m. Presentation of the book "Happy Arabia"
With the participation of Javier Puga Llopis, an author, diplomat at the Spanish Embassy in Sana’a from 2008 to 2012 and currently Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Spain in Damascus.
Wednesday, May 20
7:00 p.m. Conference: “From Yemen to Silves: Reconsidering the presence of southern Arabia in Iberia”
Sama’a Al-Hamdani is a political analyst and cultural expert specializing in Yemen, as well as the founder and director of the Dar Samaa cultural association;
Raul Ramires is a researcher and cultural promoter, and the director of the Casa do Alentejo.
Thursday, May 21
7:00 p.m. Conference: “Freya Stark: In search of the Incense Road”
Dr. Cristina Mondin, an archeologist and researcher at the University of Padua with the participation of Freya Lo Giudice, a businesswoman and goddaughter of Freya Stark (1893–1993), one of the great explorers and writers of the twentieth century.
Friday, May 22
5:00 p.m. Conference: “From UNESCO World Heritage to Community Resilience: Cultural Preservation in Yemen”
Mohammed Jumeh, Ambassador and the Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Yemen to UNESCO.
Isber Sabrine, a Syrian-Spanish archaeologist and researcher at the Milá y Fontanals Institution for Humanities Research (IMF-CSIC),
7:00 p.m. Film: screening of the documentary Soqotra, la isla de los genios (Soqotra, Island of the Djinns)
By Jordi Esteva, a photographer, writer and the documentary’s director.
Saturday, May 23
10:00 a.m. Workshop for kids: “Discover Yemen Through Fun”
Intended for children ages 6 to 10, this workshop presents Yemen’s cultural richness in a playful and creative way using games, stories, songs and other fun activities.
Led by Dima Raghis, a teacher at the Casa Árabe Language Center and head of the Arabic for Children program.
Monday, March 18.
7:00 p.m. Welcome and opening remarks by
Muti’a Dammaj, Yemen’s Minister of Culture and Tourism;
Mustapha Noman, Yemen’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs;
Aws Alawd, Yemen’s Ambassador to Spain;
Miguel Moro Aguilar, the General Director of Casa Árabe;
Vanessa Lago, Director of the Masarat Foundation
7:45 p.m. Opening event for the exhibition “Hadramaut: Persistence and memory”
Photographs by Vanessa Lago.
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
5:00 p.m. Round table discussion: “Yemen in Context: Local, regional and humanitarian dynamics of a complex conflict”
Ignacio Gutiérrez de Terán, a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid’s Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies (UAM);
Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, a researcher from the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies;
Yousef Al Dubai, a Yemeni writer and poet who authored From Yemen to Spain
Moderated by: Leyla Hamad, an associate researcher at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CEARC).
7:00 p.m. Presentation of the book "Happy Arabia"
With the participation of Javier Puga Llopis, an author, diplomat at the Spanish Embassy in Sana’a from 2008 to 2012 and currently Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Embassy of Spain in Damascus.
Wednesday, May 20
7:00 p.m. Conference: “From Yemen to Silves: Reconsidering the presence of southern Arabia in Iberia”
Sama’a Al-Hamdani is a political analyst and cultural expert specializing in Yemen, as well as the founder and director of the Dar Samaa cultural association;
Raul Ramires is a researcher and cultural promoter, and the director of the Casa do Alentejo.
Thursday, May 21
7:00 p.m. Conference: “Freya Stark: In search of the Incense Road”
Dr. Cristina Mondin, an archeologist and researcher at the University of Padua with the participation of Freya Lo Giudice, a businesswoman and goddaughter of Freya Stark (1893–1993), one of the great explorers and writers of the twentieth century.
Friday, May 22
5:00 p.m. Conference: “From UNESCO World Heritage to Community Resilience: Cultural Preservation in Yemen”
Mohammed Jumeh, Ambassador and the Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Yemen to UNESCO.
Isber Sabrine, a Syrian-Spanish archaeologist and researcher at the Milá y Fontanals Institution for Humanities Research (IMF-CSIC),
7:00 p.m. Film: screening of the documentary Soqotra, la isla de los genios (Soqotra, Island of the Djinns)
By Jordi Esteva, a photographer, writer and the documentary’s director.
Saturday, May 23
10:00 a.m. Workshop for kids: “Discover Yemen Through Fun”
Intended for children ages 6 to 10, this workshop presents Yemen’s cultural richness in a playful and creative way using games, stories, songs and other fun activities.
Led by Dima Raghis, a teacher at the Casa Árabe Language Center and head of the Arabic for Children program.
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Hadramaut, persistence and memory
As part of the “Yemen: A Journey to the Gates of Arabia” program of events, Casa Árabe and the Masarat Foundation are presenting this exhibition of photographs by Vanessa Lago in Madrid from May 18 to June 5. Discover this ancient region in southeastern Yemen, the resilience of its people, and the austere beauty of this corner of the world.
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On Tuesday, May 19, in Madrid, Casa Árabe will host this roundtable discussion, during which three experts will offer a comprehensive and contextualized overview of the situation in Yemen from three perspectives: political, international, and humanitarian. The event is part of the program “Yemen: A Journey to the Gates of Arabia.”
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"Happy Arabia"
On Tuesday, May 19, diplomat Javier Puga Llopis will present his book at the Casa Árabe headquarters in Madrid, as part of the program “Yemen: A Journey to the Gates of Arabia.” Join us and discover the landscapes, customs, and daily life of a country as little-known as it is fascinating.
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From Yemen to Silves: Rethinking the Presence of Southern Arabia in Iberia
As part of the program “Yemen: Journey to the Gates of Arabia,” we present this lecture in which two experts analyze the links between Yemen and the Iberian Peninsula through the cases of Silves and the Portuguese Algarve. It will take place on Wednesday, May 20, in Madrid. Don’t miss it!
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From UNESCO World Heritage to Community Resilience: Cultural Preservation in Yemen
Yemen’s ambassador to UNESCO, Mohammed Jumeh, will deliver this lecture in Madrid on Friday, May 22, in which he will discuss the role of cultural heritage as a tool for social resilience, collective memory, and peacebuilding, alongside the Spanish-Syrian archaeologist Isber Sabrine. The session is part of the program “Yemen: A Journey to the Gates of Arabia.”
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Socotra, the Island of the Jinn
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Children's Workshop: Learn About Yemen Through Play
On Saturday, May 23, children will have the opportunity to learn about Yemeni life, its landscapes, food, and clothing through this workshop we are organizing in Madrid. Sign up now and don’t miss out on your spot! The activity is part of the program “Yemen: A Journey to the Gates of Arabia.”
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