The village of Rijal Almaa. Tourist destination for over 900 years
It is a village that dates back more than 900 years and is considered one of the heritage tourist destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its Arab history.
Show key points
- Rijal Almaa Village, over 900 years old, stands as a prominent heritage site reflecting the Arab history of Saudi Arabia.
- Nestled in the Asir region's Sarawat Mountains, the village boasts a strategic location blending Red Sea, southern Hejaz, and Yemeni cultures.
- Its traditional stone houses with colorful windows and intricately carved walls, typically built up to eight stories, highlight its unique architectural style.
- ADVERTISEMENT
- The village hosts several tourist attractions including the Rijal Museum, historical forts like Al Jaber Fort, and natural sites such as Wadi Haswa and scenic waterfalls.
- In 2021, the World Tourism Organization named it the best tourist village globally during an event held in Madrid.
- Accommodations like Rijal Almaa Al-Rayyan chalets cater to tourists with modern amenities near heritage sites, enhancing the visitor experience.
- Recognized by UNESCO and recipient of multiple heritage awards, Rijal Almaa symbolizes the Kingdom's cultural richness and historical depth.
Rijal Almaa Village is a heritage tourist destination for the world
It is a village that dates back more than 900 years and is considered one of the heritage tourist destinations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its Arab history.
The reason for the name is due to those who Uday bin Al-Sabaq and to the grandfather Almaa bin Amr bin Amer bin Haritha bin Imru' al-Qays, the first head of this village and tribe.
Global Village has a rich history, tourist areas and monuments, and enjoys a strategic geographical location in which several cultures such as the culture of the Red Sea region, southern Hejaz and Yemen are combined, and then it was chosen as the best tourist village in the world in 2021 at a ceremony held by the World Tourism Organization in Madrid.
Recommend
Rijal Almaa Village Location
It is located in the province of Rijal Alma in the Asir region, southwest of the Kingdom, in an isolated valley in the middle of the Sarawat Mountains between the coastal plain of the Red Sea and the central Saudi plateau and enjoys moderate weather most of the seasons of the year reach it through (Aqaba Al-Sama), it is close to the city of Abha and Jabal Al-Souda in Asir.
Places to visit in Rijal Alma Village
There are many places that can be visited in the village of Rijal Almaa, including the Rijal Museum that contains many antiques, artworks and rare images, and it was restored by self-efforts in 2017 AD in order to preserve the heritage of the village, as well as the history of its establishment dates back to more than four centuries, and its antiquities contain holdings and manuscripts of Rijal Almaa.
The unique style of the houses of men of Alma The houses of men of Alma have a unique design, as they are built of stone and colored windows and do not exceed a maximum of 8 floors, and the walls are carved that the ladies of the village of Rijal Alma are famous for.
The village also has many heritage forts built of stones, such as Al Jaber Fort, which can be visited and enjoyed.
In the village, one of the most important parks is Wadi Haswa, where it enjoys greenery due to heavy rains.
Next to these beautiful built-up places, there is also the beauty of nature in the village, which is reflected in the waterfalls of Rijal Almaa, which was formed due to heavy rains in the mountain peaks and results in waterfalls that help in the fertility of the soil and make it excellent for agriculture.
Tourist life in Rijal Almaa Village
The village has Rijal Almaa Al-Rayyan chalets, which are hotel units with all service facilities and are near heritage areas, including hotel furniture, an indoor swimming pool, a place designated for cars, a group of restaurants, and cafes at the highest level to provide a distinguished service to expatriate tourists.
For decades, the village of Rijal Almaa has been maintaining its clear beauty in its stone-built towers studded with white quartz, making it one of the archaeological sites in Saudi Arabia nominated on the UNESCO World Heritage List, which consists of 60 palaces and the distinctive interior design is one of the most important features in the exploitation of spaces and one of the most important palaces embraced by the palace of the preacher Mojeb and Jaber
The costume of the village is distinctive because it is studded with cheerful colors, which is a hand-woven towel, and the villagers decorate their heads with crowns of flowers and local herbs, so they are known as flower men.
UNESCO, the United Nations organization responsible for identifying and protecting cultures and World Heritage, has been inscribed on the list of World Heritage Sites.
The village received the Arab Cities Award due to its architectural heritage and the Prince Sultan bin Salman Award for Heritage in 2017.
The village is a living testimony to the heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as it was a pivotal center for trade and culture, so it found a vibrant community in the mountains because its strategic location is easy to communicate between different regions, which left it with an indelible imprint and the distinctive integration of artistic and historical elements in it raises the city to a global level and makes it one of the best places to visit in Asir for those looking for an unfamiliar, new and attractive experience.
