EXPLORE KSA
HA’IL CRADLE OF HISTORY by: Syed Shabbir Siraj
Surrounded by the Shammar and Salma Mountains in northwestern Saudi Arabia is the city of Ha’il – the center of the country’s agricultural program, home to a number of famous heroes and prominent poets and more recently, the host of the annual Ha’il International Rally event.
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Palm trees line the contrasting sandy and green landscape
Exterior of a traditional house on the outskirts of Ha’il
Contrasting from the beige, sandy colors of its surroundings, the city is a dominant green with lush vegetation in the form of vast date palm groves and vegetable gardens that carpet the broad valley floor; a feast for the eyes. Apart from being a known for its abundant produce, Ha’il is also considered to be one of the major resorts in Saudi Arabia due to its weather which is mild and refreshing, especially during night. Other than the natural beauty in and around the city, its urban development has seen much advancement and includes wonderful parks and gardens. You can enjoy a walk in one of the thirty gardens or in one of the public parks, the most famous being Mashar Park. There are some impressive sites that one can visit during a stay in Ha’il. Go back in time by visiting historic palaces – many of which
A heritage home interior 4
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Ruins of an old fort nearby the city
belong to the Ottoman era such as the Qishala Palace and the Brazan Palace. It is considered one of the richest palaces for its stone paintings, old Thammadi artifacts and ancient lakes and wells. Moreover, you can get a taste of culture by checking out the artistic exhibitions at the cultural center. A public library and zoo is also a place worth visiting with family. The city library consists of books from famous poets such as Antarah bin Shadad, a native of this city and the author of one of the most famous Arabic poems “Mu’allaqat”. If you would like to see what an extinct volcano looks like, then just pass through the outskirts of Ha’il. Well known by the generosity of its people in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, Ha’il is also the place where Hatim al-Tai (famous preIslamic Arabian poet) lived. During times of foreign influence, the city of Ha’il preserved the purity of the Arabic language. Thus, it has been bestowed the title of “the center of learning” and is home to the famous University of Ha’il.
Bikers making their way to the Ha’il Rally
مهد التاريخ-- حائل
منطقة جبال �شمر و�سلمى فى �شمال غرب اململكة العربية ال�سعودية يف مدينة حائل الزراعية والتي ت�ضم عددا من م�شاهري ال�شخ�صيات وال�شعراء كانت مكان لالجتماع كما �أتاحت الفر�صة للعودة،ال�سنوي لرايل حائل الدويل �إىل املا�ضي من خالل زيارة الق�صور التاريخية والتي ينتمي الكثري منها �إىل فرتة اخلالفة العثمانية مثل ق�صر .برازان
Like so many other parts of Saudi Arabia, Ha’il is building on its traditional strengths while looking for new areas in which to diversify and prosper. DESTINATION JEDDAH 5