GUNUNG · Yaman

Jabal an-Nabi Shu'ayb

جبل النبي شعيب

Information

Elevation: 3.666 m
Country: Yaman (YE)
Location / Range: Haraz Mountains (Harazi subrange, Sarawat / Sarat Mountains) — western Yemen
Mountain type: Metamorphic peak (Arabian Shield rock) — not a volcano; the highest peak of the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East
Volcanic?: No (non-volcanic)
Coordinates: 15.2803, 43.9778
Difficulty: Inaccessible to civilians since 2014 due to armed conflict; a closed military zone with radar installations and armed soldiers in the summit area
Best Season: Spring (March–May) and autumn (October–November); winter (December–February) brings freezing temperatures and occasional snow; summer (July–September) brings monsoon rains and thunderstorms
Permits & Rules: A special military permit is required; the summit is closed to civilians due to a military radar installation. Since 2014 the area has been controlled by Houthi forces and nearly all countries have issued a 'Do Not Travel' advisory for Yemen
Hazards: Active armed conflict throughout Yemen (since 2014); closed military zone at the summit area with armed soldiers; steep trails with loose rock; strong winds and extreme weather at altitude; very high security risk

Description

Jabal an-Nabi Shu'ayb (3,666 m) is the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula and the entire Middle East, standing in Bani Matar District, Sana'a Governorate, Yemen. Part of the Haraz Mountains — a Harazi subrange of the western Sarawat range — the mountain rises above terraced farmland and historic stone villages typical of Yemen's highlands. Its name honours the Prophet Shu'ayb (Jethro), whose tomb is believed to stand near the summit. The top has long been guarded by a military radar installation and armed soldiers, preventing civilians from reaching the true summit; the armed conflict that began in 2014 made access entirely impossible. The most notable documented climb was by Ahmad Zain Al-Yafe'i of the Dubai Police, who reached the summit in April 2019 after a 69-hour journey. Before the conflict, the approach was made from Sana'a by shared taxi to the Haraz region, then a hired vehicle to the trailhead, with a roughly 15 km round-trip hike of 6–8 hours.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Jalur Bani Matar (rute utama dari Sanaa)

Sedang (medan berbatu dan curam, ketinggian tinggi, tidak memerlukan peralatan teknis kecuali di musim dingin)

2 hari pulang-pergi (~6–8 jam naik, ~4–5 jam turun, umumnya menginap di desa terdekat); akses kendaraan dari Sanaa ~2–2,5 jam

The main route to Jabal an-Nabi Shu'ayb, starting from the Bani Matar area in Bani Matar District, Sana'a Governorate. From Sana'a, climbers take shared taxis (sabaab) or minibuses toward the Haraz region, then a hired vehicle to the trailhead. The roughly 15 km round-trip trail traverses loose rock, steep inclines, and gravel before reaching the summit zone. At the top stand a military radar installation, armed soldiers, a 9th-century mosque, and the tomb of the Prophet Shu'ayb — civilians are not permitted near the summit without special military authorization. IMPORTANT WARNING: All of Yemen has been under active armed conflict since 2014; visits are extremely dangerous and strongly advised against.

Source

Climbing Experiences

Jabal an-Nabi Shu'ayb (3,666 m) is the highest peak in the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East — a mountain climbed by very few due to a permanent military installation at its summit and the ongoing Yemeni civil war since 2014. Available climbing content comes largely from before the conflict or from rare post-conflict accounts. The following videos and reports document the mountain itself, the surrounding Haraz landscape, and the scarce first-hand accounts from those who have reached the summit area.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.