Protectorate of South Arabia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Protectorate of South Arabia محمية الجنوب العربي
1963–1967
Map of the Protectorate of South Arabia
Status	British Protectorate
Common languages	Arabic
Historical era	Cold War
• Established	January 18 1963
• Disestablished	November 30 1967
Currency	East African shilling, then South Arabian dinar (1965-67)
Preceded by Succeeded by Aden Protectorate South Yemen

The Protectorate of South Arabia (Arabic: محمية الجنوب العربي) was a group of different areas in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. These areas had special agreements with Britain, which meant Britain offered them protection. This region later became part of South Yemen. Today, it is part of the country called Republic of Yemen.

A Brief History

Map of the southern Arabian peninsula in 1965, showing the Protectorate of South Arabia

The Protectorate of South Arabia was created on January 18, 1963. It included parts of the old Aden Protectorate that did not join a group called the Federation of South Arabia. This new protectorate was mostly the eastern part of the Aden Protectorate.

The protectorate included several states. These were the Hadhrami states of Kathiri, Mahra, and Qu'aiti. It also included Upper Yafa. The Protectorate of South Arabia ended on November 30, 1967. When it ended, the rulers of these states lost their power. The land then became part of the new independent country, the People's Republic of South Yemen. In 1990, South Yemen joined with North Yemen to form the modern country of Yemen.

The States That Formed the Protectorate

The Protectorate of South Arabia was made up of several smaller states. Each of these states had its own history and rulers before joining the protectorate.

Flag	Name	Established	Joined	Notes
	Mahra Sultanate	15th century	1886	This was the easternmost state, close to Oman.
	Kathiri State	14th century	1888	This state was in the north, near Saudi Arabia.
	Qu'aiti State	1858	1888	This was a central state in the region.
	Upper Yafa	around 1800	1903	This was a separate area, made of five smaller Sheikhdoms.
	Sheikhdom of al-Hawra	19th century	1890
	Sheikhdom of al-`Irqa	19th century	1890

Many of these former states later joined together in the 1960s. They formed the People's Republic of South Yemen. This new country became fully independent on November 30, 1967. Later, South Yemen combined with North Yemen to create the country of Yemen we know today in 1990.

Leaders of the States

Here are some of the last rulers of the states that were part of the Protectorate of South Arabia:

State	Ruler	Deposed	House	Reign	Notes
Kathiri	Husayn ibn Ali	October 2, 1967	Al Kathiri	1949–1967	Last Sultan
Mahra	Abdullah ibn Ashur	October 16, 1967	Al Mahri	1966–1967	Last Sultan
Qu'aiti	Ghalib II	September 17, 1967	Al Qu'aiti	1966–1967	Last Sultan
Upper Yafa	Muhammad ibn Salih	November 29, 1967	Harharah	1948–1967	Last Sultan

See also

• South Yemen
• Hadhrami Bedouin Legion