Ranyah Governorate

Ranyah Governorate is one of the governorates of Makkah al-Mukarramah Province, west of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is classified as a category (B) with seven administrative centers, namely al-Afiri, al-Aweilah, al-Ghafa, al-Amalah, al-Hada, Warshah, and Khadan.

Ranyah Governorate is the seventh smallest governorate in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in terms of population. According to the latest official statistics, 0.6% of the province's population lives in Ranyah, with a population of about 49,854.

Ranyah Governorate is located to the southeast of the area, with an area of 62,000 square kilometers, and it is at the bottom of Wadi Ranyah's large basin next to al-Kor Mountain and overlooks the sands of Nafud Subay'. Its villages and ancient neighborhoods extend on both banks of the valley. The city is at the center of a wide circle amid the mountains, with a diameter ranging from 18 to 20 km.

Ranyah is considered one of the modern governorates, as it became a category (B) governorate in 1980. It includes more than 100 villages and Beduin settlements and several Badia resources and complexes.

Ranyah Governorate has a distinctive geographical diversity, including volcanic lava fields, mountains, plateaus, plains, and sandy deserts due to the long slope of the governorate's land. Mining sites are available in the governorate, including decorative and granite stones. They constitute solid and homogeneous rock masses of bright and diverse colors.

The governorate includes a series of mountains mentioned in the books and poems of pre-Islamic poetry, in addition to caves, rock carvings, and historical inscriptions.

Ranyah Governorate organizes several tourist and recreational events, including the first Ranyah Date Festival, which was launched in 2022. The festival aims to promote agricultural and economic activities in the governorate, as dates represent an important economic and tourist resource. The festival offers various investment opportunities for farmers and individuals interested in agriculture. It serves as a crucial platform for farmers and creates job openings for young people. Additionally, the festival supports investors and consumers and helps increase sales volume while promoting high-quality dates.

Taif International Airport is the nearest airport to Ranyah Governorate, located 337 km away, with an annual passenger capacity of 550,000.

Ranyah Governorate can be accessed via Secondary Road 255, which serves as the main transportation hub for entering and leaving Ranyah.