Popular dishes in Al-Baha
Daghabis: It is made from wheat flour and cooked with broth and meat in a clay pot.
Al-Khubza al-Muqanna: A type of mountain bread baked in a “tannour” and served with ghee and honey.
Porridge: Served on special occasions and holidays, made from flour, ghee, and honey or dates.
Environment and Sustainability
The Al-Baha region is classified as an environmentally sustainable area; according to reports from the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (Habitat),
Al-Baha achieved a score of 61.7% in environmental sustainability indicators and 62.9% in quality of life, making it a Saudi model for balanced development between nature and humans.
Traditional markets and authentic customs
Al-Baha is an area that lives to the sound of old markets, the most famous of which is the Saturday market, whose history extends back hundreds of years.
In it, traders and farmers gather from dawn to exchange goods, and the market turns into a social meeting place where news, proverbs, and stories are exchanged.
Another inherited custom is:
Women make “Maqnah” bread inside clay ovens that are buried in the ground. It is a popular food that is still prepared in the villages to this day.
Weddings in Al-Baha are simple and communal, with villages decorated with flags and music, and traditional dances performed.
Community cooperation is a well-established characteristic, where everyone participates in building houses and harvesting crops.
Funny story
It is said that one of the men of Al-Baha wanted to attend a large wedding, so he insisted on honoring the people with the famous “Daghbees” dish.
Because the road was mountainous and rough, he carried the pot on his donkey's back and walked until he reached the place of the party. The people were amazed by his generosity and jokingly said:
"He who is generous carries her on his shoulder!"
Since then, this saying has been used to describe someone who is excessively generous or who strives to give despite the hardship.
