Abha between artistic ambition and environment: Will it become the Florence of the East?

Following in the footsteps of ancient cities like Rome, Athens, and Florence, Abha has sought to carve out a distinct identity among tourist destinations. The city originated in neighborhoods called Manazir, Al-Nasb, Al-Rabou, and Al-Moftaha, scattered villages along the banks of the valley from which it takes its name. Over time, Abha grew and expanded until it became vast, as the saying goes, “outgrowing its cradle.”

Valleys and Ecotourism

Wadi Abha is simultaneously an ecological, urban, and aesthetic element, forming the city’s main artery and showcasing its visual landscape as it descends from west to east. Activity rises along its banks westward, like an exploratory journey through a natural masterpiece, where every bend reveals farms, trees, and rock formations. This journey begins at the bottom of Mushi’a, the easternmost neighborhood, and ends at Abha’s new icon, the Abha Palace Hotel.

This blend of nature and urbanity has enhanced the city’s appeal, with King Khalid Street, also known as Art Street, becoming a prominent tourist attraction. It is lined with theaters like the Talal Maddah Theater and the largest gathering of visual artists in the region at the Al-Moftaha Fine Arts Village.

Mountains and Topographic Framework

Abha is surrounded by a group of peaks that form a unique skyline. Among the most notable is Jabal Dhara, or the Green Mountain, facing northward is the historic Shamsan Castle, revived through recent restoration efforts. Between Shamsan and Dhara lies Daql Castle, with peaks like Umm al-Rakab (Abha Sky Park), the Eastern Mountains, and Jabal Abu Khayyal. This topographical sequence is rare nationally and globally, providing a visual frame that makes the city a natural artistic canvas.

Although development demands—such as construction and service provision—have impacted the scene’s purity, there are promising opportunities to restore its natural beauty. The first steps of this transformation are emerging through the Lake and Dam project, alongside the Valley project, which promise an urban and ecological design that could elevate Abha’s status to a regional and international tourist destination.

The Tourist Attraction Triangle

Jabal Dhara holds special importance due to its height and terrain, and together with Jabal Abu Khayyal and the cliff overlooking Aqabat Dala’ to the south, it forms a distinctive tourist triangle. Connecting the sides of this triangle urbanistically and visually could reshape the city’s southern flank.

A Future Vision for the Neighborhood within the Ring Road

In this context, Abha refers to the neighborhoods within the ring road bordered by King Abdulaziz Street, while areas outside it are relatively recent. This area needs an urban, environmental, and tourist definition that restores its character as the “City of Fog,” described by the late Mohammed Zaid Al-Alma’i as the “child of words,” to become a tourist destination and a national pride globally.

Abha, with its arts and artists whose murals adorn its walls, evokes comparison to Florence, the cradle of the European Renaissance. The question remains whether it will become the “Florence of the East,” and the answer lies with the executive and legislative bodies in the city, represented by the Asir Development Authority, the city municipality, the local municipality, along with supporting government entities.