Al Lith

Al Lith الليث Al Lith
City
Flag Coat of arms
Nickname(s): The Pearl of the Red Sea
Al Lith Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Coordinates: 20°9′0″N 40°16′0″E / 20.15000°N 40.26667°ECoordinates: 20°9′0″N 40°16′0″E / 20.15000°N 40.26667°E
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Makkah (Mecca)
Joined Saudi Arabia	1925
Government
• City Governor	Mohammed Al Qabbaa[1]
Population (2010)
• Total	72,000
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)
• Summer (DST)	EAT (UTC+3)
Postal Code	(5 digits)
Area code(s)	+966-12

Al Lith (Arabic: الليث‎) is a city in the Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea south west of the holy city of Mecca. It is the fifth largest city in population in Makkah Province, and it is one of the large sea ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea, and Miqat Yalamlam is located north of it. The estimated population of Al Lith is over 72,000 people.

Geography

It is located 180 km to the south west from the holy city of Mecca, and 190 km south of Jeddah. Its northern villages are just 90 km away from Mecca. It extends to Hejaz mountains and Adham and Taif cities to the east and extends as far south as Al Qunfudah city. The international coastal road Jeddah - Jizan passes by it.

History and profile

Al Lith got its name from the Valley of Leith, which is located at the east of it near Ghumayqah village.^[2] Al Lith today is a commercial port that receives pilgrims and goods from all corners of the world. In the past, it used to be a large commercial port that receives ships from Jizan, Yemen, and the coast of Africa and exporting those goods after that to Mecca and Jeddah.

Al Lith is one of the underwater diving sites.^[3]

See also

• List of cities and towns in Saudi Arabia

References

1. "Khalid bin Faisal Al Saud visits Al Lith". Al Riyadh. 21 April 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2013.
2. Hassan Faqih, 1413
3. Eric Bjurstrom (May 1997). "Beneath the Waters of the Red Sea". The Middle East (267). Retrieved 20 January 2014. – via Questia (subscription required)