I've never been to Yemen, unfortunately, but the traditional urban design there is just crazy to me. How is this real? 

This is the traditional architectural style of the Arabian Peninsula, and especially what is now known as Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, most of the cities built in this fashion were not maintained, or in the case of the Saudis, literally bulldozed to build cookie-cutter highway and strip plaza developments. 

Ironically, because Yemen has been so poor and absent from the global economy its architecture in many of its cities has been preserved as a living time capsule. Sadly, some of it has been destroyed during bombing by the Saudi Air Force as well as flooding that struck the region over the past years. But a lot still remains.

No one really builds like this anymore, including Yemenis. They are just residing in what was left over by their ancestors. But from the beauty of what remains you can tell that at one time a beautiful caravan passed through this place.

Writer, podcaster, and commentator on foreign affairs and politics. Runs /dropglobalnews

Clanker Broadcasting Service /cbs

Maintaining and preserving is a must, because not a few people can find out how they originated and many lessons can be learned from there.
It is a beautifull building
555 $farther

An acquaintance spent several years there as a humanitarian worker

His photos were awe-inspiring