Shibam in Yemen's Wadi Hadhramaut is often called the 'Manhattan of the Desert' for its towering mud-brick skyscrapers, some over five hundred years old. But the city's real story extends far beyond its famous skyline. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Shibam's remarkable architecture was shaped by the wealth and influence of the Hadhrami diaspora—merchants who left their mark from India to Indonesia. They discuss the engineering of the towers, the social structures that enabled their construction, and the centuries of resilience that have kept the city alive. The episode also touches on the role of the Hadhrami sayyids, the impact of the 2008 al-Qaeda attack, and the ongoing efforts to preserve this UNESCO World Heritage site. It's a story of how a desert city's unique urban planning became a symbol of cultural endurance.
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