'Asir Region


The ʻAsīr Region is a region of Saudi Arabia located in the southwest of the country that is named after the ʿAsīr tribe. It has an area of and an estimated population of 2,211,875. It shares a short border with the Saada Governorate of Yemen.
The capital of the ʻAsīr Region is Abha. Other towns include Khamis Mushait, Bisha and Bareq. The regional governor is Turki bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, a son of Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He replaced his cousin, Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, on the same day.

Geography

The 'Asir Region is situated on a high plateau that receives more rainfall than the rest of the country and contains the country's highest peaks, which rise to almost at Jabal Sawda near Abha. Though data is exceedingly sparse and unreliable, the average annual rainfall in the highlands probably ranges from. It falls in two rainy seasons, the chief one being in March and April, with some rain in the summer. Temperatures are very extreme, with diurnal temperature ranges in the highlands the greatest in the world. It is common for afternoon temperatures to be over, yet mornings can be extremely frosty and fog can cut visibility to near zero percent. As a result, there is much more natural vegetation in 'Asir than in any other part of Saudi Arabia, with sheltered areas even containing areas of dense coniferous forests, though more exposed ridges still are very dry.
'Asir is home to many farmers who chiefly grow wheat and fruit crops. Irrigation has greatly expanded production in modern times.

Demographics

Governorates

The region is divided into sixteen governorates :
  1. Abha
  2. Muhayil
  3. An-Namas
  4. Billasmar
  5. Billahmar
  6. Balqarn
  7. Bareq
  8. Bishah
  9. Khamis Mushayt
  10. Rijal Alma
  11. Zahran Al-Janub
  12. Tathlith
  13. Sarat Abidah
  14. Ahad Rifaydah
  15. Al-Majardah

    History

In 25 B.C. Aelius Gallus marched his legions south from Egypt on a 1,300-mile expedition to take control of the ancient overland trade routes between the Mediterranean and what is now Hadhramaut in Yemen. The Romans wanted control of those routes because they were desperate for money and hoped to raise some by capturing Ma'rib, capital of Saba', and taking control of the trade in incense - then a priceless commodity - and other valuable aromatics. As it turned out, however, the expedition was a disaster and little information about 'Asir emerged.
By 1920, however, Ibn Saud the founder of Saudi Arabia had begun to recoup the losses of the House of Sa'ud and to unify most of the Peninsula under his rule. As part of this campaign, he sent his Bedouin warriors also known as the Ikhwan to occupy 'Asir, and from then on 'Asir was controlled by the House of Sa'ud - a situation formalized in 1934 with the signing of the Treaty of Taif between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Even then the region was still largely unknown to the West. In 1932, St John Philby, one of the first Europeans to explore and map the Peninsula, did enter 'Asir, but as he did not publish his observations until 1952, the area remained one of the blank spots on the world's map.

Economy

Historically, 'Asir was known for producing coffee, wheat, alfalfa, barley, senna, and frankincense. Wheat was grown in the summer and sesame has been grown in wetter areas of the region. Straw was used to make mats, hats, and baskets. Tribes in the area also wove tents from straw.

Development project

In 2019, the Saudi government launched an infrastructure development project in Asir region. The project is planned to cost more than 1 billion Saudi Riyals. The provided projects will include health care, transportation and municipal services. The project comes in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify non-petroleum income and activate new resources in Saudi Arabia.

List of governors