Socotra Island: The Blessed Island and Home to the Rarest Trees on Earth

Socotra Island, Yemen, stands out with its exceptional location as a sanctuary for thousands of unique species. In this series, a Yemeni photographer explores the most breathtaking and unparalleled natural landscapes on Socotra.

Socotra is the largest island in the Socotra Archipelago, located east of the Gulf of Aden, where the Indian Ocean meets the Arabian Sea. It lies approximately 300 kilometers from the nearest point on Yemen’s mainland and 900 kilometers from Aden, according to Yemen’s National Information Center.

The island is a dream destination for ecotourism enthusiasts due to its extraordinary biodiversity, as noted by the Yemeni Tourism Promotion Board.

Geological estimates suggest that Socotra separated from the rest of the world approximately six million years ago, allowing it to develop unique species of plants and animals. It is ranked as the tenth richest island globally in terms of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth.

The name Socotra, the largest island in the Middle East, is derived from the ancient Sanskrit term “Dvipasakadhara,” which translates to “The Blessed Island.”

Socotra is one of the world’s four most important islands for botanical and biological diversity, boasting around 850 plant species, of which 270 are endemic, meaning they cannot be found anywhere else.

The island is home to 10 critically rare and endangered plant species, seven of which are listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List.

Among Socotra’s most iconic and rare flora is the Dragon’s Blood Tree, around which numerous legends have been woven.

Socotra’s name was renowned in ancient civilizations, which regarded frankincense, myrrh, and aloe as sacred commodities. This reverence led the Greeks and Romans to nickname Socotra the Island of Happiness.