Khaybar Governorate

Khaybar Governorate is a governorate in Madinah al-Munawarah Province, western Saudi Arabia, and one of the famous sites in the biography of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). It witnessed the Battle of Khaybar in the seventh year after the Hijrah.

Khaybar Governorate is one of the ancient governorates in Madinah al-Munawarah Province, as it was founded in 1923. It was the first governorate from the northern side to join Saudi rule.

The governorate is classified as Category (B) and consists of nine centers. It is the fifth largest governorate in the Madinah al-Munawarah Province after the capital city, Madinah al-Munawarah.

Khaybar Governorate has a rich history and has been known by this name since ancient times. There are several narratives explaining the reason for its name, the most important being its fame for its fortresses and castles. "Khaybar" and its plural form "Khayabr" mean fortresses.

Historical narratives indicate that the first inhabitants of Khaybar were Amalek, an ancient Arab tribe that became extinct before the arrival of Islam. The name Khaybar also appears as one of the regions conquered by the Babylonian King Nabonidus, and it was part of his kingdom that included Taima, Dedan, and Khaybar.

Khaybar is mentioned in the Prophet's biography, when he prepared an army to march toward it in the seventh year after the Hijrah. After Khaybar's involvement in the Battle of the Trench became clear, the goal was to conquer and eliminate the center of strife and conspiracy against Islam. As a result, the town became exclusively Islamic.

Khaybar Governorate is located north of Madinah al-Munawarah on the international highway that connects Madinah al-Munawarah to Tabuk and then to the Northern Borders of Saudi Arabia. Madinah borders it to the south, Taima and Tabuk Governorates to the north, Hail Province to the east, and al-Ula Governorate to the west.

The governorate spans an area of 20,021 km, which represents 13.4 percent of the region's total area. It ranks fifth in terms of area and population within the region, with a population of 45,532, according to the Saudi Census 2022.

Khaybar Governorate is one of the largest oasis areas for date palm cultivation. Dates are the most important agricultural product for which it was famous before the emergence of Islam. However, dates are not the only products in Khaybar's farms. It also cultivates grains, especially wheat, barley, and corn, as well as some vegetables and fruits.

Khaybar Governorate is rich in many tourist attractions and archaeological sites. It is home to several archaeological sites, forts, and historical castles, some of which date back to pre-Islamic eras. This is because Khaybar is located on one of the most important ancient caravan routes, the Marib/Petra route.

The governorate also boasts many important Islamic landmarks, including the site of the Battle of Khaybar and the graves of the martyrs of Khaybar. Among its archaeological sites and forts are Castle of as-Saab bin Mu'adh, the Castle of Az-Zubair near the Na'em Fort, al-Bazah Fortress, which is now part of the known Ruwaan and is believed to contain the village called Nahha, Wateeh Fortress, which is the old Makkidah or what is known as Ablah and Rashedah, Sallam Fortress, Qalat Fortress, al-Bara Fortress.

Khaybar Governorate is also home to numerous large and small perennial springs for irrigating palm oases. This includes al-Lajijah Spring, al-Barakah Spring, Ali Spring, al-Hamah Spring, al-Buhair Spring, Rabbah Spring, Ibrahim Spring, al-Mustashfa Spring, as well as Shabath, al-Lajmah, Umm Hakim, al-Bulayyah, and Samhah.

The governorate is also known for its dams, many located along the valleys that feed Wadi al-Ghars, the central valley in Khaybar, and one of the main tributaries of Wadi Al-Hamd. The famous Bint Dam, or Qusaybah Dam, is in the mentioned al-Ghars area. There is also the Haseed Dam, and the area has traces of ancient dams in the valleys of Samnah, Hadnah, Halhala, and Zaidiyah.

Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport is in Madinah al-Munawarah, 165 km from Khaybar Governorate. It is the closest airport to the governorate. It is an international airport with a capacity of about 4.8 million passengers annually.

Highway 15 crosses the governorate and starts from the al-Wadiah entry in the south of the Kingdom to Tabuk Province in the north. It is the main land transportation center for access and transportation to and from Khaybar Governorate.