From May 18 to May 23, Casa Árabe hosts a comprehensive program of activities dedicated to Yemen, titled Yemen: Journey to the Gates of Arabia, which includes round tables, conferences, book presentations, film screenings, an exhibition, and a workshop for the little ones.
With its great diversity of landscapes, its millenary history, its rich traditions, and its unique architecture, Yemen represents a fundamental part of the 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 give visibility to a country as fascinating as it is complex. Its goal is to promote a deeper understanding of the reality of contemporary Yemen, beyond stereotypes or media coverage, which often focuses solely on the ongoing conflict or the humanitarian crisis.
At the same time, the event aims to serve as a space for cultural exchange where the Yemeni diaspora, country experts, and the public can come together to share, learn, and connect through history, art, architecture, photography, music, and culinary specialties.
In an increasingly interconnected global context, this initiative also aims to foster intercultural dialogue, strengthen the bonds of friendship between Yemen and Spain, and explore possible future avenues of cooperation between both countries.
The program has been organized by Casa Árabe, the Embassy of Yemen and the Masarat Foundation.
The Masarat Foundation, promoter of the program, is a non-profit organization founded in 2025 and based in New York, which 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 strengthens, the foundation promotes safe and inclusive learning environments, cultural preservation, and basic health and food assistance through various programs in internally displaced persons camps in southern Yemen, as well as in Egypt, where it supports the Yemeni diaspora. With this approach, Masarat seeks to help the Yemeni people face the consequences of war and contribute to building a more just and resilient post-war society.
PROGRAM
Monday, May 18
7:00 PM Welcome and inauguration of the event
Muti’a Dammaj, Minister of Culture and Tourism of Yemen;
Mustapha Noman, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Yemen;
Aws Alawd, Ambassador of Yemen in Spain;
Miguel Moro Aguilar, General Director of Casa Árabe;
Vanessa Lago, Director of the Masarat Foundation
7:45 PM. Inauguration of the exhibition “Hadramaut, persistence and memory”. Photographs by Vanessa Lago.
Tuesday, May 19
5:00 PM. Round table “Yemen in context: local, regional, and humanitarian dynamics of a complex conflict”
Ignacio Gutiérrez de Terán, Professor of the Department of Arab and Islamic Studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM);
Maysaa Shuja Al-Deen, Researcher at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies;
Yousef Al Dubai, Yemeni writer and poet, author of the book From Yemen to Spain
Moderator: Leyla Hamad Zahonero, Associate Researcher at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CEARC).
7:00 PM. Presentation of the book Happy Arabia
With the participation of Javier Puga Llopis, author, diplomat at the Embassy of Spain 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 PM. Conference: “From Yemen to Silves: Reconsidering the presence of southern Arabia in Iberia”
Sama’a Al-Hamdani is a political analyst and cultural professional specialized in Yemen, founder and director of the cultural association Dar Samaa;
Raul Ramires is a researcher and cultural promoter, director of the Casa do Alentejo.
Thursday, May 21
7:00 PM. Conference: “Freya Stark: In search of the incense route”
Dr. Cristina Mondin, archaeologist and researcher at the University of Padua
With the participation of Freya Lo Giudice, entrepreneur and goddaughter of Freya Stark (1893-1993), one of the great explorers and writers of the 20th century.
Friday, May 22
5:00 PM. Conference: “Seeking human impact through heritage preservation: UNESCO’s cultural strategy in Yemen”
Nuno Oliveira, Director of UNESCO programs in Yemen
7:00 PM. Film: screening of the documentary Socotra, the island of geniuses
With the participation of Jordi Esteva, photographer, writer, and director of the documentary.
Saturday, May 23
10:00 AM. Children’s workshop: “Get to know Yemen through play”.
Aimed at children aged 6 to 10, it presents the cultural richness of Yemen in a playful and creative way through games, stories, songs, and other activities.
Led by Dima Raghis, teacher at the Casa Árabe Language Center and responsible for the Arabic for Children area.
