Because of its location, Sanaa has served as an urban hub for the surrounding tribes of the region and as a nucleus of regional trade in.
Although these trades were seen as somewhat demeaning for members of the upper classes to take part in, they were still fairly respectable and in some cases sayyids or qadis would engage in them as a main source of income.
The city is mainly serviced by the , which also serves the surrounding as well as.