Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia’s Faifa mountains, which rise more than 1,800 meters above sea leveland stand about 100km from the southwestern city of Jizan, enjoy moderate climate and temperatures throughout the year, distinguishing them from the rest of the Kingdom’s highlands.
The mountains attract a large number of visitors and tourists from different regions, drawn inby the beautiful nature and valleys. The mountainous areas are famous for their agricultural terraces, and characterised by green flora that cover them.
The Faifa mountains are also wrapped around each other, making them look like a single mountain pyramid from a distance, an area that encompasses nearly 600km covered with greenery that includes many types of plants, flowers and herbs.
The area has many houses with unique archaeology designed in cylindrical forms and circular terraces. The mountainous area in known to have a large folk heritage area with many popular arts, folk proverbs, legends, judgment and poetry. The region has 20 different tribes and clans.
These slopes, forests and valleys have contributed to the existence of many wild animals in Faifa, and the diversity of the flora and fauna density have contributed to the economic wealth of the region, including the production of large quantities of high quality honey.
The governorate of Faifa looks like a modern city with its tall buildings that touch the clouds. This mountainous region in southwest Saudi Arabia enjoys generally mild weather during summer and cold temperatures in winter.
The mountains, part of the Sarawat range, are known for their parks and high tops, most notably Al Absiyya, Al Laghtha, AlKidra, Buqa’at Al-Washl, Al-Surra, Qardha and Al-Sima’a.
Neighbouring governorates can all be seen from the pinnacles of this mountain group, including Al-Daer Bani Malik, Al Aidabi and Al Ardhah, in addition to the valleys of Jawra and Dhamd.
The old cylindrical mountain houses and the agricultural terraces of the Faifa mountains reflect the heritage and authenticity of the area.
The people of Faifa estimate there to be millions of agricultural terraces, and the fertile soils are protected from erosion by an elaborate system that collects water from the mountaintops and roofs of houses in specially built reservoirs to be used for irrigation during dry seasons.
The inhabitants of Faifa rely on agriculture and livestock as sources of income. They plant aromatic trees and grains of all kinds, in addition to pomegranates, Annona, coffee, cocoa, guava, tamarind and other fruits and vegetables. They also rely on beekeeping.
Tourists visiting Faifa can enjoy the local heritage found in Al Nafi’a souq, which is one of the first markets to be established in the governorate and preserves its traditional character and simplicity of its shops.
Alternatively, the Haqou Faifa market was established by the municipality of Faifa in a modern architectural style and provides municipal services to the market’s visitors and the large public squares, where local events are held
