An-Namas Governorate

An-Namas Governorate is one of the governorates of the Aseer Province, classified as Category (A). It is located in the southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, about 140 km from Abha, atop the Sarawat Mountains. The governorate is characterized by dense forests and includes three affiliated centers. It is inhabited by approximately 38,409 people, equivalent to 1.9 percent of the region's population, according to the Saudi Census 2022.

An-Namas Governorate rises between 2,200 m and 2,700 m above sea level. It overlooks the Tihama, covering an area of about 2,208,160 hectares, or 22,081 km2. The climate is moderate during the summer, with average temperatures ranging from 18°C to 27°C. It is rainy in winter, and during that period, temperatures range from 10°C to -5°C.

The dense fog that touches the ground is prevalent in several locations within the governorate. This fog can sometimes last several months, especially during the winter and spring. During these times, horizontal visibility can be reduced to just a few meters. In summer, the fog that hugs the mountains adds a touch of beauty to the region's nature, attracting many tourists to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The governorate is divided into three areas: the slopes overlooking the plain of Tihama or al-Issdar. It is densely forested with juniper trees, olives, White Crossberry (Grewia tenax), Acacia tortilis (Vachellia tortilis), and Acacia nilotica (Vachellia nilotica). The second area is al-Sarah, which forms the watershed line between the internal eastern valleys and the coastal valleys leading to the Red Sea. The third area is the Eastern Plateaus, or Najd, as the locals call it. It is relatively lower than al-Sarah and consists of plateaus and rocks, where the Bedouin residents settle.

An-Namas geologically belongs to the Arabian Shield region, which consists of metamorphic igneous rocks. Its rocks contain metallic minerals such as granite, iron, copper, gold, silver, and other minerals, basalt and quartz, and metamorphic rocks like schist and gneiss.

In an-Namas, there are several archaeological villages and ancient tombs, the most prominent of which are the tombs of Wadi Tarj, the tombs of Rusus Talah, and the tombs of Wadi Nakab. Its mountains contain fossils, writings, and inscriptions, such as Jabal Dhu al-Ain, Jabal al-Sijin, Jabal Aymah al-Khatifa, Qarn al-Ghala site, al-Dhlayel, Mahafer al-Khail, and Wadi Awas.

Several public markets are held in an-Namas Governorate, such as al-Rass Market in the ancient city of al-Jahwa, the Bani Hilal Market, the Sunday Market in the village of al-Ghara, the Monday Market in the village of Al Jamil, the Friday Market on the main street in the al-Sarah center, and the Wednesday Market in al-Sir Village.