Asir region
Between the clouds and the heritage
Its main cities are: Abha – Khamis Mushait – Bisha – Al Namas – Mahayil – Sarat Abidah – Tathlith – Rijal Alma’ – Ahad Rafidah – Dhahran Al Janoub – Balqarn – Al Majardah – Tanomah – Tarib – Bariq – Al Birk – Al Harjah – Al Amwah
– The mattress.
The scent of the mountains and the spirit of generosity
Customs and traditions
Cooperation in construction and agriculture is a well-established custom among the people of the mountain villages, embodying the spirit of community solidarity.
Arabic coffee and dates are the hallmark of Asiri hospitality and are offered to the guest before any conversation.
Weddings extend for days and include traditional dances such as the Asiri step, which is performed to the tunes of drums.
Women excel in "Al-Qatt Al-Asiri," an art of decorating walls with bright colors that express joy, femininity, and identity.
The story of Asir
The art of Asiri cat art: decorating the soul and walls
The art of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri is one of the most prominent components of the aesthetic identity in Asir, as women excel at drawing colorful geometric patterns on the interior walls of houses that symbolize joy, unity, and family integration.
This art form has gained international attention after UNESCO included it in 2017 on its list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Heritage villages in Asir
Al-Muftaha Village: Located in the city of Abha, it is considered an icon of the Asiri identity, as it has been transformed into a cultural and tourist center that includes the King Fahd Cultural Center and the Talal Maddah Theater, and is supervised by the Ministry of Culture, the Public Investment Fund and the Asir Development Authority.
Rijal Almaa Village: It is located 45 km from Abha and includes eight heritage palaces built on the mountain slopes, some of which reach a height of six floors, decorated inside with the art of Al-Qatt Al-Asiri and outside with white marble stones, which made it part of the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018 AD.
popular dishes
Porridge: It is made from flour, honey and ghee, and is served on special occasions.
Mashghoutha: A traditional dish cooked from flour, vegetables and meat.
Marqouq: A popular dish made of dough, broth, and vegetables.
The mountains of pride and their popular proverbs
The towering mountains of Asir teach patience and pride to its people, and one of their famous proverbs is:
"Only fruitful trees fall."
His story:
It is said that one of the notables of Rijal Alma’ was envied by some neighboring villages because of the success and prestige he had achieved, so a sheikh from the region calmed the people by saying:
"Only fruitful trees fall."
That is, the successful and distinguished person is the one who is envied, just as a fruitful tree is pelted with stones.
Since then, the proverb has been used to defend successful and hardworking people.
Asir Lens
