This thesis investigates the impact of transportation on the economic, social and physical aspects in the Yemen Arab Republic. The study focuses on both rural and urban areas. Research for this study was undertaken in 1987-89 and is based especially on surveys in the rural areas around the regions of Saadah and Ibb and in the capital city of Sana'a. Since little previous work has been carried out into transport study in Yemen, a fundamental task was to undertake research to examine the following: the current transport problem in the rural areas; 2) the impact of roads on agricultural production; 3) the impact of roads on the marketing process; and 4) the impact of roads on social development in the rural areas. In order to discuss the above aspects, some farms at various distances from the main road were chosen in the region of Saadah. Another survey in 1989 was designed to undertake the same task but with more detailed analysis. Thus two villages in the region of Ibb were selected to investigate the importance of a road on the economic and social prosperity of the village near the road. The results from both rural surveys have indicated that the relationship between economic and social improvements are to a large extent associated with road development. In some cases, it has been found that the road by itself could not promote any kind of improvement. This is as a result of the lack of other components such as irrigation, limitations of land and the absence of government incentives. The study discussed some rural transport problems which are related to lack of car ownership, the absence of public transport, and the high cost of road construction, all of which have a negative impact on rural communities. The research showed that in Yemen there are areas such as Tihama and Marib where roads have been a prerequisite for agricultural commercialization. On the other hand it was found that roads were not essential for areas which have little potential economic growth such as the mountains. The roads which have been constructed in those areas served to encourage agricultural imports rather than exports. The adoption of new irrigation systems and the application of new inputs have been very limited. The results of these findings suggest that more research is needed to provide an explanation on whether transport is necessary for development or development required transport. One of the many objectives of this thesis was to look at other countries' experiences in terms of their transport development. The idea was to learn how some countries had implemented some transport projects yet their economic and social development had not progressed beyond the minimal requirements, eg. Ethiopia. On the other hand lessons can be learnt from countries which have very limited natural resources but have realized tremendous progress in transport achievements, such as Switzerland. The urban transport sector was an important aspect of this thesis. Results of the urban survey showed the effectiveness of this sector in the process of economic and social life of the people in the city of Sana'a; it also provides the necessary links with the transport network serving the hinterland. Although transport was found to be an important component for urban daily life, nevertheless it has created attendant problems. These are: 1) congestion; 2) traffic accidents; 3) pollution; 4) noise and gradual destruction of old houses particularly in the Old City. Finally, rural and urban transport policies for short and long terms were mainly based on the findings of this thesis. However, those policies were proposed so that economic, social and perhaps physical development can be performed more efficiently.

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