Places to Visit in Hail

Ha’il, the capital and largest city of the Ha’il province is a largely agricultural city that is located in the center of the northern part of Saudi Arabia. As an oasis city with plentiful water wells, Ha’il has held great significance as a stop for ancient caravan trade routes. It also catered to pilgrims. The people of Ha’il are known for their generosity and not surprisingly it is also the home of the legendary poet and king Hatem al-Tai, the epitome of altruism and generosity. The legend of Hatem is also mentioned in the ‘Arabian Nights’. His grave is located in Towaren, Ha’il. 

Ha’il is known for three major castles. The A'arif Fort is a 200-year-old mud castle located on a hill that overlooks the city. It is one of the main attractions of the city and offers a great viewpoint. The Barzan Palace was a huge palace that spanned over 300,000 square meters. Its construction was started in 1808 and was completed under the reign of the second Rashidi emir, Talal ibn Abdullah. It consisted of three floors that included reception halls, gardens, kitchens, places for diplomatic guests, and the royal family. The third major ​​fort is Qishlah Fortress that is located in the center of the city, it was constructed during the 1940s when prince Abdul-Aziz bin Musa'ad Al Saud held office in Ha'il province. The mud palace consists of two floors with walls over 8.5 meters.

Ha’il is a largely agricultural area. It is known for the production of dates, cereal, and fruits. The city lies next to the Shammar mountains and the Nefud Al-Kebir, The Great Sand Dune Desert. These impassable mountains coupled with the equally notorious desert have helped Ha’il remain safe from foreign invasion. You can get a great view of the city from Samra mountain. The legendary Hatim al-Tai used to light a fire on top of this mountain to welcome guests. Today, it is illuminated by electric lights along with a gas-powered fire that transforms this mountain into a great spectacle at night. A beautiful park, as well as a lake, is also present at the bottom of the mountain.

The climate of Ha’il is the standard hot desert climate. Being at a higher altitude makes it a bit milder as compared to other regions but still, the summers are pretty intense and dry while the winters are somewhat cooler.