HUDAIDA, chief sea-port of Yaman, on the Arabian coast of the Red sea, 14° 48' N. and 42° 57' E., on sandy beach exposed to S. and W. winds. Steamers anchor more than I m. from shore, and all goods are lightered by Sanbuks (Arab sailing boats). Its population of 30,00o in Turkish times, when there were a garrison and many officials, contained Indian, African and Greek traders, but since the World War prosperity has declined, though more recently Italian commercial and political activity bids fair to improve matters. Regular steamer communication is main tained with Massawa in Eritrea, while Hudaida is also served from Suez and Aden. After the war Hudaida, which was occupied by British troops, was handed over by the British Government to the Idrisi ruler of `Asir, but in 1921 Imam Yahya of Yaman had no difficulty in wresting the town and district from him. And by the Italian treaty with the Imam, Hudaida is formally recognized as forming part of Yaman, though the Wahhabi king of Hijaz and Najd still regards it as de jure part of `Asir within his dominions. Hudaida has long since displaced Mocha as the chief emporium of the Yaman coffee trade, and also handles by far the greater part of the import trade of the country.