Asir

The origin of the name "Asir" remains a subject of debate among historians. One theory, proposed by Al-Masudi in his work The Meadows of Gold, suggests that the region was originally known as the "land of Azd".^[3]

Another popular hypothesis suggests that the name "Asir" derives from the Arabic term ʿUsrah (Arabic: عُسرة, lit. 'Hardship'). This theory comes from the fact that the region's terrain is rugged, which can be challenging to navigate.^[4]

A third perspective proposed by Fuad Hamza in his book Fi bilad ʿAseer, links the name to the historical prominence of Banu Asir.^[5] As the tribe gained power and influence, its name came to encompass the surrounding territories and tribes.^[5] This association was reinforced by the close ties between the Asir tribe and many of the ruling emirs in the region, including those from the Al Yazid, Al Muthami, and Al A'ad families.^[5]

In 25 B.C., Aelius Gallus marched his legions south from Egypt on an expedition of 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometres), to take control of the ancient overland trade routes between the Mediterranean Sea and what is now Hadhramaut in Yemen. The Romans wanted control of those routes because they were desperate for money and hoped to raise some by capturing Ma'rib, capital of Sabaʾ, and taking control of the trade in incense – then a priceless commodity – and other valuable aromatics. As it turned out, however, the expedition was a disaster and little information about ʿAsir emerged.^[6]

By 1920, however, Ibn Saud, the founder of the modern Saudi state, had begun to recoup the losses of the House of Saud, and to unify most of the peninsula under his rule. As part of this campaign, he sent his Bedouin warriors also known as the Ikhwan to occupy ʿAsir, and the ruler of the region, Hasan Al Idrissi, had to leave.^[7] Therefore, he asked for protection from Imam Yahya, the ruler of Yemen and went there.^[7] From then on ʿAsir has been controlled by the House of Saud, a situation formalized in 1934 with the signing of the Treaty of Taʾif between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Even then the region was still largely unknown to the West. In 1932, St John Philby, one of the first Europeans to explore and map the peninsula, did enter ʿAsir, but as he did not publish his observations until 1952, the area remained one of the blank spots on the world's map.^[8] In 1935 ʿAsir was made a separate governorate.^[9]

Since 2014 refugees are killed after crossing the Saudi border by the Saudi Border Guard. Since 2023 at least several hundred Ethiopian refugees have been killed at the border between Yemen and the provinces Jazan, Asir and Najran. The Saudis have also used explosive weapons.^[10][11]

Historically, ʿAsir was known for producing coffee, wheat, alfalfa, barley, senna, and frankincense.^[12][13][14] Wheat was grown in the summer and sesame has been grown in wetter areas of the region.^[13][15] Straw was used to make mats, hats, and baskets. Tribes in the area also wove tents from straw.^[16]

In 2019, the Saudi government launched an infrastructure development project in ʿAsir Region. The project is expected to cost more than 1 billion Saudi Riyals. The provided projects will include health care, transportation and municipal services.^[17] The project is in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 to diversify non-petroleum income and activate new resources in Saudi Arabia.^[17]

In 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched Soudah Peaks Project to develop a tourism destination in Soudi Arabia's highest peak, Jabal Soudah.^[18]

The ʿAsir Region is situated on a high plateau that receives more rainfall than the rest of the country and contains the country's highest peaks, which rise to almost 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) at Jabal Sawda near Abha. Though data is exceedingly sparse and unreliable, the average annual rainfall in the highlands probably ranges from 300–500 millimetres (12–20 in). It falls in two rainy seasons, the chief one being in March and April, with some rain in the summer. Temperatures are very extreme, with diurnal temperature ranges in the highlands the greatest in the world. It is common^{[clarification needed]} for afternoon temperatures to be over 30 °C (86 °F), yet mornings can be extremely frosty and fog can cut visibility to near zero percent. As a result, there is much more natural vegetation in ʿAsir than in any other part of Saudi Arabia, with sheltered areas even containing areas of dense coniferous forests, though more exposed ridges still are very dry. ʿAsir is home to many farmers who chiefly grow wheat and fruit crops. Irrigation has greatly expanded production in modern times. Asir National Park was established in 1981, and extends from the Red Sea coast through the western foothills to the Asir escarpment.^[19]

 

The region is divided into sixteen governorates (with the populations of the Census of 2010):^[21]

• Abha (+366,551)
• Muhayil (+228,979)
• An-Namas (+54,119)
• Billasmar (+34,080)
• Billahmar (+25,709)
• Balqarn
• Bareq (+74,391)
• Bishah (+205,346)
• Khamis Mushayt (+512,599)
• Rijal Almaa (+65,406)
• Tanomah (+40,000)
• Dhahran Al Janub (+63,119)
• Tathlith (+59,188)
• Sarat Ubaida (+67,120)
• Ahad Rafidah (+113,043)
• Al Majaridah (+103,531)
• Al Harajah

• Turki bin Ahmed Al Sudairi (1900s–8 June 1969)^[22]
• Fahd bin Saad bin Abdul Rahman (8 June 1969–1971)^[22]
• Khalid bin Faisal (1971–2007)
• Faisal bin Khalid (2007–2018)
• Turki bin Talal (2018–present)

• Al Soudah
• Soudah Peaks
• Rijal Almaa
• Al-Qatt Al-Asiri
• Hejaz
• Sarat Mountains
• Sarat Ubaida Governorate
• South Arabia
• Saleh Al-Qadhi
• Tihamah

• Mackey, Sandra (2002) [1987]. The Saudis: Inside the Desert Kingdom. New York: W.W. Norton and Company. ISBN 0-393-32417-6. Updated Edition; Norton Paperback; pbk.

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Asir Province.

• "Asir" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). 1911. p. 443.
• Asir National Park: Splendid Arabia, An Online Guide to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia