Al Bahah Region

Coordinates: 20°0′N 41°30′E / 20.000°N 41.500°E / 20.000; 41.500 Al-Bahah Region (Arabic: الباحة‎ al-Bāḥah pronounced [ælˈbæːħa]) is a region of Saudi Arabia. Al-Baḥah is located in the southwestern of the Hejaz region. It has an area of 9,921 km², and a population of 411,888 (2010). Its capital is Al Bahah. The al- Baḥah region includes al-Baḥah city, Almikhwah and Baljorashi. Baljorashi has a famous traditional market known as sooqe as-sabt, which translates to English as "Saturday market". The Baljorashi market is very old and its exact age is unknown. This market opens after the Fajr prayer, or around 5 A.M. local time. The market closes around noon. People come from all over the region to buy and sell handmade goods. Other cities in the al-Bahah region include Baljourashi, Almikhwah, Rahwat Albar, Sabt Alalaya, a city by the Red Sea called Al Qunfunda. The al-Baḥah region is the home of two Azd tribes, the Ghamid and the Zahran.

Etymology

The word al-Baḥah (or Baḥah without al which is equivalent to "the" in English) has many meanings; it means water and the maximum of it, the courtyard of a house, the high and abundant palm tree. In tales it refers to an extremely deep bottomless well in al-Zafir fortress. It means "open space", "water" and "abundant palm tree" and the "midline of a road".

Al Bahah

Al Bahah (Arabic: الباحة‎ Al Bāḥa) is a city in the south west of Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of Al Bahah Region nestled between the resorts of Mecca and Abha, Al Baha is one of the Kingdom’s prime tourist attractions. It enjoys a pleasant climate and is surrounded by more than forty forests, including Raghdan, al Zaraeb and Baidan. Al Baha is the headquarters of the Governor, local councils and branches of governmental departments. Receiving the state's special attention, the city of Al Baha abounds in educational, tourist and health institutions, It is considered the capital of the Ghamidi and Zahrani tribes in Saudi Arabia, And most of its inhabitants are from the native tribes.

The "Pearl of Resorts" is the name given to Al Baha by those acquainted with the city. The "Garden of Hijaz" (Arabic translation: حديقه الحجاز) was the name given to Al Baha by the Sharif of Mecca.

Geography and location

Al Baha City (BC) lies in the south-west of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia between Mecca and Aseer. It is the smallest of the kingdom's provinces (11,000 square km). It is surrounded by a number of cities, including Taif on the north, Beesha on the east, Abha on the south and the Red Sea coast city of Al Qunfuda on the west. This tourist city is situated in an area characterized by natural tree cover and agricultural plateaus. It consists of six towns, the most important of which are Beljarshy, Almandaq, and Almekhwah, in addition to the Baha city in the center of the province. The province comprises 31 administrative centers and has a population of 533,001.