Seasonal cool spell revives Mukalla's beaches and local economy

Each year between late July and early August, Mukalla experiences Al-Baldah, a brief cooling of the Arabian Sea that brings thousands of swimmers and tourists to its beaches. Local youths, including 15-year-old Abdulrahman Badr and his friend Tareq, profit by selling bakhmari, sambusi and tea to early-morning visitors, hoping to fund school supplies. The surge also fills hotels, with the Mecca Hotel reporting occupancy rates higher than any other season, and fuels a bustling market of temporary stalls.

Authorities organize a tourism festival featuring music, sports and cultural displays, funded by private businesses rather than public funds. While many enjoy the respite from war-torn daily life, some, like unemployed Hani Abdullah, criticize the focus on festivities over essential services such as electricity and food aid. Overall, Al-Baldah provides a rare, albeit temporary, lift to Mukalla’s strained economy amid Yemen’s ongoing conflict.