Abd al Kuri

Geography

The terrain of Abd al-Kuri is semi-arid, with little vegetation; annual monsoons, originating from the Indian Subcontinent, deliver vital precipitation each year. Two ranges of large hills, separating near the island's centre, run nearly the entire east-west length of the island. The northern coast consists mostly of sandy beaches with a few rocky outcrops and cliffs, while the southern coast consists of high, steep cliffs. The island's highest point, Mount Ṣāliḥ, reaches an altitude of over 700 m. The total area of Abd al-Kuri is 133 km2 (51 sq mi). Most of its inhabitants subsist on fishing. Kilmia is the main village.

Flora and fauna

Abd al-Kuri has a number of endemic plant species, including the subshrub species Ruellia kuriensis and Convolvulus kossmatii.

The island is home to an endemic bird, the Abd al-Kuri sparrow (Passer hemileucus), which has an estimated population of fewer than 1,000 individuals. The island has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA), by BirdLife International, for the presence of the endemic sparrow as well as for breeding colonies of the red-billed tropicbird (Phaethon aethereus), sooty gull (Ichthyaetus hemprichii) and Persian shearwater (Puffinus persicus).

Two species of lizards native to Abd al-Kuri, the Socotran wall lizard (Mesalina kuri) and the Abd al-Kuri rock gecko (Pristurus abdelkuri), are named after the island. Additional reptiles present include the Abd al-Kuri skink (Trachylepis cristinae), the sharpnose leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus oxyrhinus) and the Socotra leaf-toed gecko (Hemidactylus forbesii).

History

1800s

Thomas Fellowes was sent on HMS Briton in 1872 to Abd al Kuri, alongside Socotra, by British authorities to see if it would be a suitable place to settle liberated slaves. Fellowes decided against it, citing the poor living conditions on both islands.

2020s

In June 2020, the island as part of the Socotra Archipelago was taken control and administered by the Southern Transitional Council during the events surrounding the 2014 Yemeni civil war.

Work to construct an airfield on the island was started in 2021.

In June 2022, the pro-Houthi Yemen Press Agency (YPA) reported on the alleged expulsion and forced evictions at gunpoint of residents from their villages on the island of Abd Al Kuri in the Socotra archipelago claiming that a military base hosting Israeli and Emirati forces was constructed.

In March 2024, the airfield appeared on satellite imagery of the island with an array of stones that can be seen from a satellite stating "I love UAE." The UAE replied to an Associated Press inquiry about the imagery that the presence of UAE on Socotra is based on humanitarian grounds and is performed in cooperation with Yemeni and local authorities. On 17 January 2025, the airport was seen to be nearly completed after analysis of satellite photos was performed by the Associated Press.

Map

center|thumb|600x600px|Topographic map of Socotra archipelago; Abd al-Kuri at bottom left

References

Bibliography

References

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5. [[#BA1974. Schürmann (1974)]] pp. 24.
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7. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2007)]] pp. 180.
8. [http://wikimapia.org/6364535/Abd-al-Kuri-Island Abd al Kuri Island]
9. [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=32537 Abd al Kuri Sparrow Passer hemileucus]
10. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/181440/0 2010. "''Passer hemileucus'' " In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1.] {{webarchive. link. (23 September 2011 Downloaded on 6 October 2011.)
11. [[#A&C2009. Redman; Fanshawe; Stevenson (2009)]] pp. 412.
12. . (2021). ["Abd al-Kuri (Socotra)"](http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/abd-al-kuri-(socotra)-iba-yemen). *BirdLife International*.
13. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN. 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Abd el Kuri", p. 1; "Kur", p. 148).
14. "''Mesalina kuri'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
15. "''Pristurus abdelkuri'' ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
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17. Symposium, Colston Research Society. (1974). "Foreign Relations of African States: Proceedings of the Twentyfifth Symposium of the Colston Research Society Held in the University of Bristol, April 4th to 7th, 1973". Butterworths.
18. (21 June 2020). "Yemen separatists seize remote Socotra island from Saudi-backed government". Reuters.
19. (1 January 2025). "Mysterious Airfield on Gulf of Aden is Nearly Complete". The Maritime Executive.
20. (2022-06-29). "UAE occupation forces displace dozens of families from Abd al Kuri Island".
21. (2024-03-28). "An airstrip is being built on a Yemeni island during the ongoing war, with 'I LOVE UAE' next to it".
22. (17 January 2025). "Mysterious airstrip appears on a Yemeni island as Houthi rebel attacks threaten region". Associated Press.