Al Bahah Region

Al-Bahah الباحة
Region
Map of Saudi Arabia with Al-Bahah highlighted
Capital	Al-Bahah
Manatiq (Districts)	7
Government
• Governor	Prince Mishari bin Saud
Area
• Total	9,921 km^2 (3,831 sq mi)
Population (2010 census)
• Total	411,888
• Density	42/km^2 (110/sq mi)
ISO 3166-2	11

Coordinates: 20°0′N 41°30′E / 20.000°N 41.500°E Al-Bahah Region (Arabic: الباحة‎ al-Bāḥah pronounced [alˈbaːħa]) 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.^[1]

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".

Governors

• Prince Muhammed bin Saud Al Saud (1987-2010)
• Prince Mishari bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (28 August 2010 - )

Geography

Al-Baḥah is the name of the province as well the main city. The town is situated in the north-western part of Ghamed territory. The region is formed of mountains, plains, hills, valleys and desert stretches. The al-Baḥah region is situated in Hejaz of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between longitudes 41/42 E and latitudes 19/20 N. occupying a middle position among the beautiful tourist areas of the kingdom. The region has an area about 36,000 km².

Major Cities

• Al Bahah
• Baljurashi
• Almandaq
• Almikhwah
• Alaqeeq

Topography

The al-Baḥah region is divided by huge rocky steeps into two main sectors. To the west is a coastal plain, Tihama. East is the mountain range of al-Sarawat,known as al-Sarat, with an elevation of 1,500 to 2,450 m above see level.

Population

A genealogist has confirmed that the majority of the population of Al-Baḥah are descended from the Azad Shenou`a tribe which emigrated from the south of Hejaz of the Arabian peninsula following some historical natural events.

Al-Azad is an Arab tribe which divided into 24 tribes derived from four stocks: Azad Shenou`a, Azad Al Sarat, Azad Ghassan and Azad Aman. Al-Azad (or al-Assad the Lion) was the title given to Darda`e bin al-Ghot bin Nabt bin Malik bin Nassr al-Azad. Kaab bin al-Harith had seven children including Ghamed, who is Amr bin Abdullah bin Kaab. Zahran bin al-Harith had six children, including Abdullah bin Zahran who is the great grandfather of the Zahran tribe. The population of the region now is about 500,000. Many have moved to major metropolitan areas for better living and education.

Climate

The variation in topography influences the climate of the region. The al-Sarat area is exposed to the formation of clouds and fog, and this often happens in winter because of air masses coming from the Red Sea, accompanied by thunderstorms. In spring and summer the climate is mild and pleasant. The climate in the Tihama area is different from that in al-Sarat although they are separated by no more than 25 km. Tihama is an undulating coastal plain, hot in summer, warm in spring and mild in winter. The climate in general falls in the arid zone. Relative humidity varies between 52% and 67% with maximum temperatures of 23 °C and minimum temperatures of 12 °C.

Social structure

The social life of the inhabitants of the al-Baḥah region is based on Sunni Islam, the roots of which go back to the year 10 AH, in addition to the well established Arab customs and tradition. Each tribe division or subdivision has its own head (sheikh).

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References

1. Kathy Cuddihy, An A to Z of Places and Things Saudi, pg. 6. London: Stacey International, 2001. ISBN 9781900988407