PhD Degree Awarded to Ms. Dawlah Al-Ward in Modern and Contemporary History

Ms. Dawlah Saleh Ali Hassan Al-Ward was awarded a PhD degree in Modern and Contemporary History for her dissertation titled: Commercial Activity in the Port of Hodeida during the Reign of Imam Ahmed bin Yahya Hamid Al-Deen (1367–1382 AH / 1948–1962): A Historical Documentary Study, which was submitted to the Department of History and International Relations, Faculty of Arts and Humanities–Sana’a University. The dissertation defense was held on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The PhD Viva-Voce Committee, which was formed based on a resolution issued by the Graduate Studies and Scientific Research Council, consisted of the following:

# Committee Members Designation Position
1 Prof. Amat Al-Malik Ismail Qasem Al-Thawr Internal Examiner Chair
2 Prof. Amat Al-Ghafour Abdulrahman Ali Al-Amir Main Supervisor Member
3 Assoc. Prof. Amin Mohammed Ali Al-Jabr External Examiner Member

The dissertation aimed to:
 Present a comprehensive picture of Yemen’s economic history during the reign of Imam Ahmed through an independent historical investigation based on contemporary Yemeni documents and archival records.
The study yielded several key findings summarized as follows:‎
 The Port of Hodeida served as the principal artery of commercial life for the Mutawakkilite Kingdom of Yemen and represented one of the country’s most important economic gateways to the world.
 Cash crops, together with animal hides, constituted Yemen’s most significant exports during the period under study.
 All provinces of Yemen contributed to the flourishing commercial activity of the Port of Hodeida.
 The Soviet Union was granted the privilege of constructing the modern Port of Hodeida and assisting in the development of its operational system. It enjoyed priority in political and economic relations with Yemen.
 Following its modernization in 1961, the Port of Hodeida became a strong competitor to the Port of Aden and other Red Sea ports.
In light of these findings, the researcher recommended the following:
 Providing greater governmental support for researchers and historians to conduct studies on the history of Yemeni ports and customs administration.
 Giving increased attention to the development and expansion of Yemeni ports.
 Preserving the reputation and quality of Yemeni coffee in international markets.
 Protecting Yemen’s territory, coastlines, territorial waters, and Bab Al-Mandab Strait.
 Pursuing policies aimed at safeguarding and strengthening the value of Yemeni currency.
The dissertation defense was attended by a number of academics, researchers, and specialists, students, colleagues, and the researcher’s family.