Aden (ancient Adana), city in southern Yemen, a major port on the Red Sea, economic capital of the country. The city is located at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula on two small peninsulas of volcanic origin that rise to more than 300 m (1000 ft) in height. The eastern peninsula is known as Aden and the western peninsula as Little Aden. Its position near the entrance to the Red Sea has made the city one of the busiest fueling stations in the world, servicing most of the ships that pass through the Suez Canal. It is also a transshipment center for the region. A large oil refinery is located at Little Aden. The principal sources of employment are the refinery and the port complex. International air service is provided at the Aden Civil Airport, located in the district of Khawr Maksar.
An ancient trade center, the city of Aden was under Egyptian control from the 3rd century BC until it became a Roman colony in 24 BC. The city fell successively under Ethiopian and Persian control and became associated with Yemen about the 7th century AD . The city fell to the Turks in 1538 and was incorporated into the sultanate of Lahej in 1728. After British forces seized Aden in 1839, it was administered as part of India. In 1937, it became a crown colony, encompassing its environs and the Kuria Muria Islands (Jaza'ir Khuriya Muriya) and Perim. Aden was declared a free port in 1850, and coastal areas were annexed to the port in 1881 and 1888. During World War II (1939-1945) the colony of Aden was an important Allied air base.
