Khemed

Khemed is the fictional country in Arabia invented by Herge for Tintin books.

Khemed is an Arabic country near the Red Sea and in the Arabic Peninsula. Its capital is Wadesdah (which appears to be derived from the Marols pronunciation of "What is that?"), although its chief economic center appears to be the port city of Khemikhal. Most of the country is desert. In the Tintin stories, Petra appears to be located in Khemed. This is because author Herge originally set the first story in the British Mandate of Palestine and Transjordan, but, created the country to avoid politcal issues. Indeed, Khemikhal was originally supposed to be the Israeli port of Haifa.

Khemed is a monarchy, ruled by Emir Mohammed ben Kalish Ezab, whose son Abdullah does all sorts of mischief, most famously with his exploding cigars and cigarettes. However, sheik Bab El Ehr had tried to oust him two times. Last time he was in power for six months with the aid of mercenaries and foreign aircraft.

Tintin stories with Khemed:

• Tintin au pays de l’or noir (Land of Black Gold, 1969)
• Coke en stock (Coal in stock, translated as The Red Sea Sharks, 1958)