Jiblah is just a small town in the fertile valley near Ibb, but it has a famous history. Jiblah’s fame comes from one of the most well-known rulers in Yemen’s history, Queen Arwa bint Ahmed. During her reign in the 11th and 12th centuries, Queen Arwa established the Sulayhi capital in Jiblah. The town flourished under her rule, with the building of the Mosque of Queen Arwa, terraced farming, and the ancient palace which was rumored to have 365 rooms, a different one each day for the queen. Queen Arwa ruled for 52 years, until the age of 92, accomplishing not just development projects but also became known as a very wise woman. Today, over 850 years later, the region still has remenents of its prosperity. The stone tower houses are built in a similar style as those found in Ibb, just a few kilometers away. The Mosque of Queen Arwa, still well preserved and fully-functional, is claimed as one of the most beautiful mosques in all of Yemen.
Ta'iz is a city in the Yemen Highlands lying at an elevation of about 1,400 metres above sea level, with 460,000 inhabitants (2003 estimate). It is the capital of Ta'iz Governorate. Ta'iz has a dramatic setting where the roads run up and down the mountain sides. Above the city rises the 3,006 metre high Sabir mountain. The city has many old and beautiful quarters, with houses that are typically built with brown bricks, and mosques are usually white. Most famous among the mosques are the Ashrafiya, the Muctabiya and the Mudhaffar. Also memorable are the old citadel and the governor's palace that rests on top of a mountain spur 450 metres above the city centre. The economic base of Ta'izz is coffee, grown in the surrounding landscape together with the mild stimulant qat and other vegetables. Among the city's own industries are cotton-weaving, tanning and production of jewellery. Ta'iz cheese is also renowned throughout Yemen. The name of the city appeared first at the 6th century of Hijra, 12th CE, when Turan Shah, the brother of Salah ad-Din, arrived in Yemen in the year 1173 CE. Taiz was refortified by Salah ad-Din’s brother, Taktakeen, the Ayyubid. The second Rasulid King, Almaddhafar (1288 CE), established Taiz as the second capital of the Rasulid Dynasty after Zabid. Ibn Battutah visited Taiz in the fourteenth century and described it as one of the largest and most beautiful cities of Yemen. Taiz remained a walled city until 1948 when Imam Ahmed made it the second capital of Yemen, allowing for expansion beyond its fortified wall. Taiz today is the largest industrial base in Yemen, thanks to the huge investment of the Hayel Saeed group, yet it did not lose its historical charm.