Abha

Abha (أَبْهَا, ʾAbhā) is the capital of 'Asir Region in Saudi Arabia. It is situated 2,270 m above sea level in the fertile Asir Mountains of south-western Saudi Arabia, near Asir National Park. Abha's mild climate makes it a popular tourist destination for Saudis. Saudis also call the city the Bride of Mountain due to its position above the sea.

History


Abha was the capital city for the Prince of Asir Ibn Ayde under the authority of the Ottoman Empire until World War I. In 1918, the Prince of Asir, Yahya bin Hasun Al Ayde, grandson of Ibn Ayed, returned to his family throne conquered in Abha with complete independence. In 1920, Asir was conquered by the Ikhwan tribesmen of Nejd loyal to Ibn Saud during the Unification of Saudi Arabia. Abha has many historic places such as forts and other locations, thanks to the region's cultural heritage. Bani Shehr, Bani Amr, Bal-Ahmar, Bal-Asmar, Bal-Qarn, Shumran and some others all belong to "Al-Azd" and some extended families Qahtan, Shahran which is belong to Hood. Azdi tribes had migrated after "Marib Dam" collapsed for the third time in the third century AD. Al-Namas, Billasmar Region, Hawra Billasmar Center, Khaled, Eyaa Valley, Athneen Billasmar (which is the capital), Subuh Billahmar, Al-Nimas, Tanomah, Al-Majaredah place, Bal-Qarn Center, and Sabt Alalyaa place (Bishah, Wadi Bin Hashbaal) and some other known places that belong to the Asir Region.

In 2015, a group of terrorists attacked a big mosque in Abha. Some of the people who were killed were police officers. In later years, some places in Abha, including the international airport, were attacked by Yemeni terrorists.

Transportation
A coastal road connecting Jeddah and Abha was completed in 1979. A SAPTCO bus station connects Abha to other destinations within Saudi Arabia.

Abha International Airport (مَطَار أَبْهَا, IATA: AHB[3], ICAO: OEAB) is Abha's main airport. International connections are available to Yemen (Sana'a), Egypt (Cairo), Qatar (Doha) and the UAE (Dubai, Sharjah), as well as to other destinations within Saudi Arabia. Construction of Dutch-designed Abha Airport began in mid-1975, and flights began in 1977. Before construction of the airport, domestic flights were serviced by the military airport near Khamis Mushait by Ali Misfer Ibn Misfer, who was the founder of aviation in Abha in 1945.

Landmarks
The city of Abha is composed of four quarters, the largest of which contains a fortress. Hilltop fortresses are a characteristic feature of the city. Shadda Palace, built in 1927, is now a museum displaying local handicrafts and household items. Other notable buildings in Abha include the Abha Great Mosque, the Al-Tahy restaurant, the Abha Palace Hotel, and the funpark next to Lake Sadd. The New Abha five-star hotel is a recent construction on the lake, 1.5 km southwest of the town. The head office and the main printing presses of Al Watan, a major Saudi daily, are in Abha.

Culture
The Saudi government has promoted Abha as a tourist destination. The city hosts events to attract visitors to the city and its surroundings, including the summer Abha Festival, sporting events, shows, exhibitions, and musical performances poets and singers. The artist Talal Maddah died on stage during one such performance in Abha.

Sport
Abha Club is the city's professional football club, currently playing in the Saudi Professional League, the highest tier of Saudi football. Their home stadium is the 25 000 capacity Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Stadium.

Education
King Khalid University is a public university in Abha. The University was established in 1998 by merging the Imam Muhammed bin Saud University of Islamic Studies and the King Saud University of the South. The total number of enrolled students is approximately 85,000.

Geography and climate


Abha is located in the southern region of Asir at an elevation of about 2270 m above sea level. Abha lies on the western edge of Mount Al-Hijaz, near Jabal Sawda, the highest peak in Saudi Arabia. Treating the Asir Mountains as part of the Sarawat, the landscape is otherwise dominated by the Sarawat Mountains.

Abha has a hot desert climate (Köppen: BWh) that is influenced by city's high elevation. The city's weather is generally mild throughout the year, becoming noticeably cooler during the "low-sun" season. Abha seldom sees temperatures rise above 35 C during the course of the year. The city averages 278 mm of rainfall annually, with the bulk of the precipitation occurring between February and April, with a secondary minor wet season in July and August associated with the northward movement of the Intertropical convergence zone. Abha gets about 11 percent of its irrigation water from rainwater harvesting.

The highest recorded temperature was 40 C on August 25, 1983, while the lowest recorded temperature was -2 C on December 29, 1983.

Ecology
The Garf Raydah Protected Area is heavily colonized by cacti, olive trees, and junipers.