Bab: Arab writers
AL-BAB has been in existence since the early days of the internet. Originally intended to be a website about Yemen, it began in February 1998 as "Yemen Gateway". Its web address, al-bab.com, alluded to Bab al-Yemen (also known as "al-bab"), the famous gateway leading into the old city of Sana’a. At the same time, this choice of name also highlighted the site’s purpose, which was to provide an electronic gateway to information about Yemen.