Ataq#Shabwa Museum
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ataq City
| native_name = {{lang|ar|عتق}}
| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = Ataq City, Shabwah = مدينة عتق شبوة.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Part of old Ataq city with some modern buildings.
| pushpin_map = Yemen
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Yemen
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Yemen}}
| subdivision_type1 = Governorate
| subdivision_name1 = Shabwah Governorate
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| established_title =
| established_date = 1931
| area_total_km2 = 1300
| population_as_of = 2004
| population_footnotes = 5012
| population_total = 37315
| population_density_km2 = 28.70
| timezone =
| utc_offset = +3
| coordinates = {{coord|14|32|11|N|46|49|59|E|region:YE|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 1129
| elevation_m = 1146
| elevation_ft = 1146
| website =
| footnotes =
| official_name = Ataq
}}
File:Ataq City, Shabwah , مدينة عتق شبوة.jpg
File:Ataq City, Shabwah ،مدينة عتق شبوة.jpg
File:Ataq City, Shabwah ،،مدينة عتق شبوة.jpg
Ataq ({{langx|ar|عتق}}), alternately spelled Attaq, is a small city and the capital of Shabwah Governorate in Yemen. Ataq is 458 km south east of Sanaa. The difference in elevation of the city is about 70 m with generally partially flat topography with altitudinal variation in the range of 1120–1190 m.a.s.l. Its population was around 37,315 according to a 2004 census.{{cite web|url=http://uwssp.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=168 |title=Feasibility Study for Ataq City |publisher=Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Project |access-date=October 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728152123/http://uwssp.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115&Itemid=168 |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }} On May 24, 1994, Ataq was seized by northern Yemeni forces.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hF_xUVkZoUgC&q=Ataq%2C+yemen&pg=PA94|title=Country Analysis Briefs: 1994: Profiles of Major World Energy Producers, Consumers, and Transport Centers|publisher=DIANE Publishing Company|year=1995|page=94|isbn=0-7881-2500-1}} According to the Geo Names Database, Ataq is located at an altitude of 1146 metres. It is served by Ataq Airport; the landing strip is located to the north of the town. Armed forces loyal to exiled president Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi captured Ataq from the Southern Transitional Council in August 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/yemeni-gov-forces-control-ataq-clashes-190823093826834.html|title=Yemeni government forces take control of Ataq after clashes|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2020-01-14}}
Landmarks
Ataq is described by Lonely Planet as "not at all like an inland Yemeni town"; other publications have described it as Beau Geste in appearance and "completely different" and surrounded by desert.{{cite book|title=Oman, UAE & Arabian Peninsula|author=Jenny Walker|author2=Stuart Butler|author3=Frances Linzee Gordon|author4=Terry Carter|author5=Lara Dunston|edition=2nd|page=[https://archive.org/details/omanuaearabianpe00walk/page/499 499]|publisher=Lonely Planet|year=2007|isbn=978-1-74104-546-8|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/omanuaearabianpe00walk/page/499}}The Journal of the Royal Artillery, Volumes 90-92, Woolwich, Eng. Royal Artillery Institution,1963
It contains the Shabwa Museum, and an old souk and the Banata Specialist Hospital are located to the south-eastern part of the town which geographically stretches from the northwest to the southeast. Dubai Hotel and Suites has a hotel in the town centre. Military camps are located in the western part. Approximately 50% of the buildings in Ataq have two storeys and the population is spread across 70-80% of the city area.
=Shabwa Museum=
Ataq contains the regional museum of the Shabwah Governorate, the Shabwa Museum. The museum contains important items related to the prehistoric heritage of the area and contains many items unearthed by M. L Inizan.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x6o4XLIKN0UC&q=Ataq%2C+yemen&pg=PA161|title=The Evolution of Human Populations in Arabia: Paleoenvironments, Prehistory and Genetics|publisher=Springer|author=Michael D. Petraglia|author2=Jeffrey I. Rose|year=2009|page=161|isbn=978-90-481-2718-4}} In particular it contains relics from the ancient city of Shabwa, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Hadhramaut and items unearthed from the archaeological sites of the ancient Qataban and Osan kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://www.yemen-nic.info/English%20site/SITE%20CONTAINTS/Tourism/Touristic%20sites/Shabwa/Shabwa.htm |title=Shabwah Governorate |publisher=Yemen National Information Centre |access-date=October 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704164753/http://www.yemen-nic.info/English%20site/SITE%20CONTAINTS/Tourism/Touristic%20sites/Shabwa/Shabwa.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2010 }}
The airport contains a technical tower, electricity station and fire brigade building.
Urban development
Climate
Ataq has a hot desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh).
{{Weather box
|width = auto
| location = Ataq
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan high C = 23.0
| Feb high C = 23.7
| Mar high C = 25.4
| Apr high C = 27.0
| May high C = 29.3
| Jun high C = 31.0
| Jul high C = 30.2
| Aug high C = 29.3
| Sep high C = 28.3
| Oct high C = 26.7
| Nov high C = 24.3
| Dec high C = 23.4
| Jan mean C = 16.6
| Feb mean C = 17.6
| Mar mean C = 19.6
| Apr mean C = 21.3
| May mean C = 23.5
| Jun mean C = 24.9
| Jul mean C = 25.0
| Aug mean C = 24.1
| Sep mean C = 22.9
| Oct mean C = 20.2
| Nov mean C = 17.9
| Dec mean C = 17.1
| year mean C =
| Jan low C = 10.3
| Feb low C = 11.6
| Mar low C = 13.8
| Apr low C = 15.7
| May low C = 17.7
| Jun low C = 18.9
| Jul low C = 19.9
| Aug low C = 18.9
| Sep low C = 17.6
| Oct low C = 13.7
| Nov low C = 11.5
| Dec low C = 10.9
| |precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm=4
|Feb precipitation mm=4
|Mar precipitation mm=8
|Apr precipitation mm=11
|May precipitation mm=8
|Jun precipitation mm=1
|Jul precipitation mm=13
|Aug precipitation mm=23
|Sep precipitation mm=9
|Oct precipitation mm=1
|Nov precipitation mm=1
|Dec precipitation mm=2
|source 1 = Climate-Data.org{{cite web
|url = https://en.climate-data.org/location/30017/
|title = Climate: Ataq - Climate-Data.org
|access-date = 30 October 2017}}
}}