Al-Qura Governorate
It is one of the governorates of Al-Baha Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the northern gateway to Al-Baha Province and the first tourist destination which the tourists come across on their way from Taif to Al-Baha and Abha. It is characterized by the mountains and hills on which the agricultural terraces, trees, shrubs and green areas are dispersed creating a stunning panorama. Al-Qura Governorate is situated on the international highway attaching to it a great importance comparing to the remaining governorates of the province. It encompasses Al-Atawilah Center. It carries out many projects and offers several services similar to the other governorates of the province during the reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Location:
Al-Qura Governorate is located on the heights of the Sarawat Mountains between longitude (41) and latitude (20), and rises above sea level by approximately (2200) m. It is situated in the north of Al-Baha Province, as it is located on the main line linking Taif, Al-Baha, Abha. It is about 40 km away from Al-Baha and about 180 km away from Taif and about 370 km away from Abha.
Population:
The population1 of Al-Qura Governorate and its suburbs exceeds 36,779 people. Most population are residents of Zahran and Ghamid. Genealogists confirm that most inhabitants of Al-Qura Governorate descend from Azd Shanua, believed to have migrated to the region from the south of the Arabian Peninsula following historical events or natural disasters whose causes are disputed. Some people believe that no one can be certain that this area was uninhabited before the great Arab migration in the south of the Arabian Peninsula, but rather it was fully inhabited in its eastern parts at least. This view is supported by the existence of many primitive rock carvings in various areas including the mountains and the caves near those places, and a few sharp stone fragments.
Topography:
The topography of the governorate is similar to the topography of Al-Baha. Al-Qura Governorate is considered an agricultural mountain governorate.
It includes Shomrukh Mountain. It is a mountain situated at the northeast of Wadi Sabiha Village at Al-Hijaz, passing through Taif, Al-Baha, Abha, Road from the south.
Valleys and Dams:
Bidah Valley: It is located northeast of Al-Baha City. It is one of the most important valleys of Al-Hijaz. Its head is in the south of Jabal Al-Arak and it joins Al-Assad stream in Al-Soussiah, passing through Turubah Valley. On its eastern and western banks, there are several villages. It is famous for the cultivation of pomegranate, exported to all regions of the Kingdom and GCC. Each year, the Pomegranate Festival is held. It is also famed for growing peaches, apricots and grapes, in addition to wheat and corn. At the upper valley, Bidah Dam, one of the largest dams in the region, is located. It reserves a large amount of water forming a large lake among the cliffs. There are also Sabiha Dam and Mashooqa Dam.
Heritage Sites:
Heritage areas such as Al-Atawilah Heritage Village, Al-Qahad Village, Bakrosh Castle, Al-Daaba Heritage Village, Ghatamiya Heritage Village, Al-Kaleba Village Mosque at Bani Adwan, as well as Karadsa old Mosque, the old village at Al-Shoaba, Al Suwaid Fort at Al-Qawarir, Al-Saadan Fort, Al-Qodah Houses at Haza Village, Al-Harshan Fort at Sabiha Al-Olya, Al-Qisma Heritage Village, Dahma Forts at Mashooqa, horse parade at Al-Nasif, Bidah, several forts, castles, gold mines at Atawaimat, iron mines at Al-Tharwa Alwatania, and the engraved library at Almanhel.
Climate:
Its climate is mild, with warm and sometimes rainy summer and cold, foggy and rainy winter. Al-Qura Governorate is of the places that has pleasant climate.
Popular markets:
- Al-Rubo famous market at Al-Atawilah. It is held every Wednesday. It is supervised by a regulatory body and is subject to regulations ensuring the safety of the visitors and their goods and ensuring their movement at Al-Atawilah for three days before the market is held, on the market day and day after the market. It still exists where cattle and grains are sold and other ancient trade activities are practiced.
- Tuesday Market at Bani Adwan. It is located at the head of Jabal Shomrukh Mountain next to Taif, Al-Baha, Abha Road.
Affiliated Centers:
- Bani Adwan and Bani Harir Center; headed by Muhammad bin Muidh Alfaiz
- Bidah Center of Al Zaid, headed by Saedan Al-Otaibi
- Mashooqa Center of Mashooqa City, headed by Abdulrahman Asidan
- Nikhal Center of Mahd Ashara, headed by Abdullah bin Ali Al-Zahrani
- Turubah Alkhayala Center of Turubah Alkhayala, headed by Nasser Asiri
His Excellency Mr. Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Harbi acts as the Governor.
The most important villages of the governorate:
Al-Qura Governorate includes 120 villages, the most important of which are:
Al-Atawilah, Al-Makatim, Bidah, Al-Qahad, Turubah, Alkhayala, Al-Hakaman, Sabihah, Mahd Al-Ashara, Al Ziyad, Mashooqa, Al-Ashtaa, Mahawaih, Mandaha, Hadha, Bathan, Nakhal, Al-Karadasah, Al-Kalebah, Al-Wahda, Bani Mohammed, Al-Dahwat, Al-Habasha, Quraish Al-Hassan, Al-Mathila, Al-Mashareq, Al Saidan, Al-Mashareq, Al-Habasha, Mahwa Al-Marwa, Sabihah, Al-Shaoba, Al-Karadasah
Al-Saadan, Al-Tharaween, Al-Hamidan, Al Salman, Al-Qawarir, Al-Qahad, Al-Qahban, Manhel, Al-Qisma, Al-Tharaween.
Education:
The Zahran Schools Supervision Office was opened as the first education office in the region and it now includes:
5 secondary schools, 7 middle schools, 30 primary schools for boys and 30 primary schools for girls, in addition to a training center for male teachers and another training center for female teachers, a neighborhood club and a school health unit.
Health:
There are Al-Qura General Hospital and more than 10 primary health care centers, in addition to Zahran Private Clinic and 4 private pharmacies.
Sports:
Al-Ameed Club at Al-Atawilah and 4 sports centers, including Bani Adwan Sports Center for the Development Committee, East Al-Atawilah Sports Center established by the municipality and Barcelona Private Playground, Al-Ameed Sports Club under construction by the Administration of Youth Care, and Bidah Sports Center of the Development Committee.
Traditional Food:
There is no doubt that environmental and economic conditions, the climate and the available agricultural crops determine the type of food that we usually consume.
Al-Baha Province is renowned for popular dishes and still takes pride in preparing and eating such types of food considering that they are acts of generosity and honoring the guest.
These popular dishes include:
Daghabees: It is one of the most popular dishes. Its ingredients are corn flour, wheat or millet flour, spices, onions, butter and honey;
Kabsa: Favorite main course made of rice and (lamb or goat) meat and garnished with raisins;
Labza: It is made of the same ingredients of the Daghabees dish;
Al-Mutharia: It is made of flour, meat, broth, butter and honey;
Malbana: It is made of corn flour or millet flour, spices, butter and honey;
Bread: It is made of wheat or corn flour kneaded and put onto a thin rock under the flame of fire;
Porridge: It is made of flour and cooked on fire, mixed well and served with butter and broth.
One of the most prominent features of the region is the food gifting when they pay a visit. Families exchange visits at certain times and without prior appointments, which indicates simplicity and generosity. The host offers their guests the Arabic coffee, tea, mint, dates, honey, fruits and almonds that the region is famous for.
Projects such as roads, streets, lighting, afforestation, models and many social and service projects have been established, including:
- Model slaughterhouse and feed warehouses at east Al-Atawilah;
- The public space at Al-Ashtaa;
- The public space at Nakhal;
- The public space at Bani Adwan;
- Setting up a location for Tuesday Market at Bani Adwan;
- Al-Tharwa National Park that rivals the ancient Raghdan Forest;
- Nikhal National Park including a mosque, a tourist center, a holiday home, two parks, a special section for young people and a municipal nursery;
- Sabiha parks and landscapes of a large area and in the highest place giving a stunning panorama of the north of the governorate;
- Mafraq promenade at Bidah;
- The permanent pomegranate market at Mafraq, Bidah;
- Al-Ashtaa Park;
- Summit Park;
- Mahawiah Park;
- Nikhal Tourist Center;
- Mahd Al-Ashara Park;
- East Al-Atawilah Playgrounds (basketball, volleyball courts, football pitch and handball court);
- Al-Atawilah Park;
- Wadi Al Qawafel Park at Bidah; and
- Al-Shamlani Museum at Al-Atawilah.
The governorate also has many commissions, such as Al-Bir Committee and Services Committee, the Development Committees in each center, Reconciliation Committees, the Shelter House, the Media Committee, and Al-Qura Governorate website, www.al-qara.gov.sa. This guide is a cultural and social tourism guide for the governorate developed and supervised by Mr. Gharamallah Al-Murshid, Mr. Abdullah Hattil and the team of the Media Committee of the governorate.
