Abha ( ) is the capital of Asir province in Saudi Arabia. It is situated at 2,200 metres (7,200 ft) above sea level in the fertile mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia near the National Park of Asir. Its mild climate makes it a popular tourist destination for Saudis. According to 2004 census figures it has a population of 201,912 with an estimate of 252,126 for 2009.

History

Abha's homes are made of stone and mud and were built by hand. Some homes are over 300 years old and still inhabited. The slight graduation from one layer to the next gives these houses the overall impression of truncated pyramids. Foundations are usually stones. The houses are built in shelf-like, overlapping, vertical rows that act as rain guides, keeping the rain from saturating the walls and washing them away.Al Namas is one of the city

Abha has a well known marketplace, which is open daily. The market is always busy with activity and people moving about. The locals bargain for goods like: fruits, vegetables, and coffee beans among other items. Local specialty items like ornate silver Bedouin jewelry or hand-woven baskets are also available.

Geography

Abha is located in the Southern Region of Asir, it is highly elevated and it is home to the culminating point in Saudi Arabia, Jabal Al Sooda (the Black mountain) which stands at 3300 meters high.The area is subject to rain, sometimes heavy, some of its neighboring villages and rural areas are sometimes the witnesses of flash-floods during the winter. The cooler weather, comparatively to the rest of the peninsula, makes it an attraction point during the summer.

Abha is the administrative capital of the Asir region, therefore home to the governorate of Asir. All Government departments are located there. Also there are extensive medical and educational facilities. King Khaled University and Prince Sultan College for Hotel Management are located in Abha. There is a regional airport in Abha that links it to a minimum of 4 cities with direct flights. Jeddah, Taif, Riyadh and Dammam. Al Watan, which is one of the main Saudi daily newspapers, has its head office and printing presses in Abha.

Ethnography

The inhabitants of Abha, like that of Asir in general, are made up of strictly Arab Qahtanite. Islam is the religion of almost the totality of the Abhans.

Tourism

The Saudi government has been promoting Abha as a tourist destination and has created events, such as the Abha Festival during the summer, to draw people to the city. Events are organized to attract visitors to discover the city and its surroundings, such as sporting events, shows, exhibitions and musical performances by famous Arabic poets and singers. Artist Talal Maddah died on stage during a performance in Abha.

The old Shadda Palace, thought to have been built around 1820, has been converted to a museum.

Cable cars have been installed in the city and its surroundings providing a view of the landscape....

Education

King Khalid University is a public university in Abha, Saudi Arabia founded in 1999 of merging Imam Muhammed Bin Saud University of Islamic Studies and King Saud University of The South.

Climate

References

1. World Gazetteer

External links

• [171630], Splendid Arabia, An Online Guide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia