No stability in the Middle East “without a strong Iraq”, according to the Italian Prime Minister

AL-BAHA: Located in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, the Al-Baha region is home to a wealth of natural wonders and ancient heritage sites, making it one of the most attractive emerging tourist destinations in the Kingdom.

The bare, granite slopes of the Chada Al-Asfal Mountains provide an impressive backdrop to a region rich in Hejaz’s distinctive culture and traditions.

Dotted with ancient fortresses, villages and agricultural terraces dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years, Al-Baha reflects the long history and captivating natural beauty of Saudi Arabia.

Located about 310 kilometers from the pristine coastline of the Red Sea and 2,270 meters above sea level, Al-Baha enjoys a mild climate all year round. Yet despite its attractive location and many attractions, the region has remained largely unexplored by foreign visitors.

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Mohammed Mosfir Almahfoz al-Ghamdi, right, in his Al-Malad (or “Two Brothers”) museum, named after his towers (Photo, Supplied).

The situation is about to change. A new project was recently completed in Al-Baha, as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbons, into sectors such as leisure, tourism and hospitality.

In September, the Heritage Commission of the Ministry of Culture unveiled the Dhee Ayn Museum. As its name suggests, it sits on the 400-year-old stone site of Dhee Ayn, whose name translates to ‘from the spring’, referring to the source of water running through it.

Built on top of a marble hill, the village is surrounded by a breathtaking mountain range and the lush vegetation of Wadi Rach, where banana trees flourish and the scent of wild herbs and flowers of season fills the air.

Dhee Ayn’s storey houses, built with large flat stones, provide a window into the history of domestic life in the Arabian Peninsula long before the rise of nation states. From a distance, the abandoned settlement almost seems to glow as sunlight reflects off its marble facades.

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The Al-Baha region is home to a multitude of natural wonders and ancient heritage sites (Photo, SPA).

The village is in an area known as the “1001 Towers Region”. The mountainside is littered with stone fortresses that once protected communities, plantations and travelers from bandits and rival tribes.

Located along an ancient trade route, Al-Baha has long been a popular destination for merchants and nomadic hunters and provided one of the main routes across the southern Arabian Peninsula to Mecca. Remains of the old road are still visible in the form of broken black and gray flagstones.

Established as an administrative region in 1964, Al-Baha today comprises six cities, the most important of which are the capital, Al-Baha City, Al-Mikhwah, Baljorachi and Al-Mandaq. The region is the ancestral home of the Al-Ghamdi and Al-Zahrani tribes, and in 2020 its population numbered 506,866.

Abundant in fertile soils, fresh water, lush forests and pastures, the region remains ideal for human settlement and has long been considered one of the most attractive parts of the Gulf.

In the villages of the region, houses, businesses and places of worship are built of granite and basalt of regional origin, decorated with quartz and equipped with juniper wood roofs covered with mud.

The construction methods are not the only traditions still celebrated by the inhabitants of the region. The Al-Aqiq Museum, for example, contains a treasure trove of objects, jewelry, fashions and perfumes collected over the years by its owner, Sahla al-Ghamdi.

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The town of Al-Baha at night (Photo, Supplied).

Visitors to the museum are welcomed with dates and a cup of Arabic coffee and watch a performance of Ardah, the traditional Saudi sword dance. Visitors can have their hands decorated with henna and try on some traditional dresses and abayas that reflect the changing fashions in the region.

Other interesting attractions for visitors include the Al-Malad, or Two Brothers, Museum, named after the brothers and sisters who built the two imposing towers that still stand there, originally to protect the village and store food.

Museum owner Mohammed Mosfir Almahfoz al-Ghamdi greets visitors to the museum, which opened in 2020, with a volley of gunfire from a collection of antique rifles. Exhibits include photographs, books, weapons like guns and swords, traditional clothing and cutlery he collected over several decades, which offer visitors a glimpse into the region’s past and its cultural heritage. .

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Naser Alshdui, left, wears many hats: cave volunteer, bean farm guide, researcher, historian and writer (Photo, Supplied).

In nearby Baljurashi, another gem awaits visitors: A beautiful rural pavilion owned by Charifa al-Ghamdi, a local woman who, after years of teaching mathematics in Jeddah, decided to return to Al- Baha and transform his house into a charming hotel.

The property, which has been carefully renovated to retain its traditional character and heritage, is decorated with colorful objects from across the region that she has collected over the years. She said her thriving hospitality business would not have been possible without the national reforms undertaken by the government in recent years.

“I could not have decorated and renovated this house without Vision 2030 and the increased freedoms granted to women,” Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform program is designed to transform social and economic life in Saudi Arabia. It aims in particular to facilitate the creation of enterprises in a whole range of new sectors and to increase the empowerment and participation of women and young people in civic and commercial life.

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Abundant in fertile soils, fresh water, lush forests and pastures, the region remains ideal for human settlement (Photo, Provided).

Al-Ghamdi said reforms, including the relaxation of guardianship laws that previously required women to be accompanied by a male relative in public, have enabled him to hire laborers, buy materials needed for repair and renovation of his property and to welcome guests.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom aims to increase the sector’s annual contribution to national gross domestic product from the current 3% to at least 10% by 2030.

Over the past year, the Saudi government has launched several investment programs aimed at supporting tourism in Al-Baha.

In September 2021, the Kingdom’s Tourism Development Fund signed an agreement with travel service provider Seera Group to develop a 200-room luxury resort in the area, complete with shops, restaurants and facilities for activities. outdoors. Raghadan Tourist Resort, the first sustainable tourism project in the region, is one of the main investment destinations identified by the national tourism strategy.

“Al-Baha’s rich history, cultural heritage, climate, topography and geographical location in the south-west of Saudi Arabia make it an attractive region for tourism, which will further diversify the country’s offer,” said a spokesperson for the Tourism Development Fund at the official launch of the projects.

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According to the Ministry of Tourism, the Kingdom aims to increase the sector’s annual contribution to the national gross domestic product from the current 3% to at least 10% by 2030 (Photo, Supplied).

During the inauguration of the project in July, Abderrahmane al-Fadley, the Saudi Minister of Environment, said that the local authorities of Al-Baha had spent more than 152.5 million US dollars (1 US dollar = 0.94 euro) for various initiatives, including seven projects to build dams and wells to secure the supply of drinking water. There are also plans to promote afforestation and protect vegetation.

Since the start of this year’s summer season, Al-Baha has welcomed an increasing number of visitors from across the Kingdom, eager to enjoy the region’s scenic landscapes and temperate climate.

One attraction that has proven particularly popular is a lavender garden located in the middle of Raghadan Forest Park in the cool Sarawat Mountains, west of Al-Baha Town.

To reach it, visitors follow a natural stone path surrounded by waterfalls. It is lit by 270 decorative lamps and the flowerbeds are complemented by seating and gazebos, all forming an idyllic and peaceful oasis of calm.

The investment in Al-Baha certainly seems to be paying off. Like the many giga-projects taking shape along the Kingdom’s Red Sea coast, Al-Baha is set to become a must-visit destination for Saudi and foreign travelers in decades to come.

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The breathtaking landscapes of the Hejazi Mountains (Photo, Supplied).

Not only is its initial success attributable to state investment, the region’s natural beauty and ancient settlements steeped in history, but also to the commendable efforts of local people to preserve and share their heritage, culture and its traditions.

Thanks to them, Al-Baha clearly has the potential to become one of the Kingdom’s most famous attractions.

This text is the translation of an article published on Arabnews.com

No stability in the Middle East “without a strong Iraq”, according to the Italian Prime Minister