Al-Qunfudhah Governorate

Al-Qunfudhah Governorate is one of the coastal governorates affiliated with Makkah al-Mukarramah Province in the west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It spans south of the Province, covering an area of 7,320 km, and comprises over four hundred villages, hamlets, and populated areas. Meanwhile, the number of main urban communities that provide services is approximately 219. It is inhabited by around 205,188 people, according to official statistics for 2022, making it the fourth-most populous governorate in the region after Jeddah, Makkah al-Mukarramah, and Taif.

Al-Qunfudhah Governorate has a rich history that dates back to the beginning of the fourteenth century, specifically in 1309. The eastern coastal strip parallel to the Red Sea has been, since ancient times, one of the famous land routes frequented by land trade convoys traveling from Yemen to the Levant and vice versa. Some ancient sources mention a station called al-Qanah might be where al-Qunfudhah is currently located or nearby.

The mention of al-Qunfudhah in historical writings came relatively late, around the beginning of the fifteenth century, after the decline of the Sultanate of al-Ya'qub family from the Bani Haram of the Kinanah tribe in Hali. In the nineteenth century, it served as a launching point for Muhammad Ali Basha's military campaigns against Aseer. It was also a battleground for the competing forces of the Ottomans and the Italians before it was incorporated into the Saudi state in 1924.

Al-Qunfudhah Governorate is classified under Category (A). It is uniquely situated at the center of three administrative regions: Aseer, al-Bahah, and Makkah al-Mukarramah. The governorate oversees the Red Sea coast to the west, spanning a distance of 165 km. Its southern borders meet the emirate of the Aseer Province, its northern borders converge with al-Lith Governorate, and to the east, it is bordered by al-Bahah Province.

The administrative center of al-Qunfudhah Governorate is approximately 348 km south of the city of Makkah al-Mukarramah and about 367 km from the city of Jeddah. The international coastal road from Jeddah to Jazan passes through it.

Nine administrative centers fall under al-Qunfudhah, which are: al-Qawz, Duqah, al-Mudhaylif, Hali, Khamis harb, Sabt al-Jarah, Thulatha al-Khurm, Ahad Bani Zaid, and Kinanah.

The nature of the governorate consists of three distinct geographical environments: the marine environment, the coastal desert environment, and the mountainous environment that extends eastward to the Sarawat Mountains. In its south lies Wadi Hali, one of the largest valleys in the Kingdom in particular and the Arabian Peninsula in general. On this valley, there's a dam that is considered the second-largest in the Kingdom, with a length of 284 m, a height of fifty-seven m, and a water storage capacity of 254 million m.

Al-Qunfudhah is famous for cultivating mango fruit and has been hosting an annual festival for it since 2009. Its farms also produce bananas, papaya, lemons, and various aromatic plants.

Al-Qunfudhah encompasses several historical landmarks and sites. One example is the ancient village of Asham, which dates back to the pre-Islamic era and contains numerous ancient rock inscriptions. Another site is the island of Jabal al-Sabaya located west of the town of Makhshush in Wadi Hali. Additionally, there is the stone mill landmark, which was constructed over two hundred years ago. Initially, grains were milled in this structure using a wind-driven mechanism. Later on, it was used as a storage facility for petroleum products like kerosene, gasoline, and oils, supplying postal vehicles that used to travel between Makkah al-Mukarramah, Jeddah, Jazan, and al-Qunfudhah.