The tribal society (Hadramatis) grows wheat and millet, produces also dates, coconuts, and coffee.

[6] The south side of the mountains touches the Gulf of Aden, with steep cliffs descending onto a narrow and arid coastal plain.

The northern slopes are lowering onto the Rub' al Khali desert (the "Empty Quarter").

The broad mountain plateau is intersected by deep wadis cut by seasonal streams that generally flow in the northern and northeastern direction emptying into a main channel (Wadi Hadhramaut, changing the name to Wadi Masila downstream)[7] that makes a southeast swing of 500 miles (800 kilometres) to the ocean.

[6][8] Despite seasonality of the streams, the water is generally available year-round sub-surface in the wadis.