The Yemen Arab Republic, located in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, has an area of 75,290 sq. mi. (195,000 sq. km.) and a population of 18.12 million. Capital: San?a. The industries of Yemen, one of the world?s poorest countries, are agriculture and local handicrafts. Qat (a mildly narcotic leaf), coffee, cotton, and rock salt are exported. ,One of the oldest centers of civilization in the Near East, Yemen was once part of the Minaean Kingdom and of the ancient Kingdom of Sheba, after which it was captured successively by Egyptians and Romans. It was converted to the Moslem religion in 628 AD and administered as a caliphate until 1538, when it came under Turkish occupation which was maintained until 1918 when autonomy was achieved through revolution.,, ,On February 1, 1958, Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab States. Yemen joined on March 8 in an association known as the United Arab States. Syria withdrew from the United Arab Republic on September 29, 1961, and on December 26 Egypt dissolved its ties with Yemen in the United Arab States.,, ,Provoked by the harsh rule of Iman Mohammed al-Badr, last ruler of the Kingdom of Mutawwakkilite, the National Liberation Front seized control of the government on September 27, 1962. Badr fled to Saudi Arabia.,, ,An agreement for a constitution for a unified state was reached in December 1989 uniting the Yemen Arab Republic with the People?s Democratic Republic of Yemen into the Republic of Yemen on May 22, 1990. Both currencies circulated for a number of years, but the PDR dinar lost legal tender status on June 11, 1996.,, Rulers:,,, ,Iman Ahmad, AH 1367-1382/1948-1962 AD,, ,Iman al-Badr, AH 1382-1388/1962-1968 AD,, Monetary System: ,,, ,1 Rial = 40 Buqshas,, ,1 Rial = 400 Fils (from April 1, 1995).,,