Asir Province
Historical Site
Museum

Rijal Almaa - Beautiful Heritage Village

4.5Reviews
Rijal Alma Village, Rojal Saudi Arabia
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Description

Situated in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia, Rijal Alma Village is undoubtedly one of the most historically important and beautiful villages in the Middle East. Famous for its fascinating architecture, rich history, pleasant weather, and beautiful landscape, this small village served as the regional trade center through centuries and was the natural passage that connected Yemen and Lavant to Makkah and Madinah. 

Architecture and landscape

The village consists of 60 multiple-storey ancient buildings that were built using stone, clay, and wood while the hillside has several defensive watchtowers built strategically to maximize fields of view and firing range. As beautiful as the tall stone buildings are, the real wonders lie behind the stone and clay walls. Each house is decorated and painted by skilled artisans with the most fascinating color combinations and artworks. The village is surrounded by steep hills that look over a winding road that once served as one of the most important trade routes in the Arabian Peninsula. 

Activities and Attractions

The tallest fort in the village is the Fort of Al Jaber & Al Hawat while some of the other important forts include Forts of Maejib & Hakim, Msamr, al-Dir”iyyah, and al-Sisbae, each of which has its own unique history documented and preserved by the original families. 

Rijal Alma is also home to the oldest museum in Saudi history which was established by the locals in one of the stone buildings in 1985 to preserve the village’s ancient history and heritage. The museum displays over 2800 exhibits of local history and over 500 kg of ancient local jewelry. 

Some other nearby attractions include Tanomah Waterfall, Al Sahab Park, and Al Soudah View Point.

Destination Type
Area of Natural Beauty
Historical Site
Landmark
Museum

Location

Rijal Alma Village, Rojal Saudi Arabia

Reviews

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from 37 reviews
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Reviews
Dra Sara Castro

Dra Sara Castro

02/02/2024 18:00

Google review

Amazing and wonderful place to visit near the big city Abha The museum is so good , bar excellent only missing a turístico guie to explain the history
Yasir Arefin

Yasir Arefin

01/01/2024 08:28

Google review

UNESCO world heritage site. The buildings depict how people in the region lived and built their houses. It's a good place to visit for the history.
Ann Estanislao

Ann Estanislao

12/23/2023 18:12

Google review

If you are in Abha, then this site is a must to be visited. It's a great experience to step in one of the oldest villages (900 years old) in Saudi Arabia.
Dr Sireesha siri

Dr Sireesha siri

11/26/2023 18:25

Google review

Must visit place in asir region. Museum entry fee 20 SAR. If you’re planning to go from khamis mushait/ Abha , Better to choose via muhail to rijal almaa, because the way from Al Sauda to rijal almaa is too risky.
Noor Ather

Noor Ather

11/07/2023 21:43

Google review

It was very historic place you can get so much information about this historic city how they live. It was a very good experience there. It was one of most adventurous places. You can go inside old homes and explore everything by yourself. Every thing is open for everyone.
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