King Abdulaziz National Park in al-Soudah

The King Abdulaziz National Park in al-Soudah is a national park located in the al-Soudah, part of the Sarawat Mountains, northwest of Abha City in Aseer Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was opened on July 5, 2011. The park is situated at an elevation of approximately 3,100 m above sea level.

The park was named after its founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Bin Faisal Al Saud, highlighting its significance. It is one of the largest parks in the Kingdom, with an area of 883 ha, and the highest national park in the Middle East in terms of elevation. The development and preparation of the park took three years to complete.

King Abdulaziz National Park in al-Soudah stands out for its magnificent environmental features. It receives the highest amount of rainfall in Aseer Province, which results in lush and dense forests of juniper trees covering the area.

The first stages of establishing King Abdulaziz National Park in al-Soudah included surrounding it with a wall that was approximately 2,688 m long. Additionally, an underground concrete reservoir with a capacity of six hundred m was constructed to provide water. About fifty covered areas were built for park visitors, and an underground electrical network was installed. Furthermore, six restroom facilities for both men and women were distributed throughout the park, and around one thousand saplings of the Juniper tree were planted. Territorial barriers were also established to preserve rainwater, internal roads were opened and paved, and parking spaces were provided.

In 2013, the park witnessed new developments, including the installation of approximately 140 lighting columns, allowing visitors and tourists to enjoy the park's nighttime atmosphere.

National parks and vegetation sites in the Kingdom are a natural treasure that contributes to improving the climate and reducing pollution. Saudi Green Initiative has developed national parks, increasing their number from forty to four hundred in the Kingdom. The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) develops and protects vegetation sites, expands afforestation efforts, and enhances national parks throughout the country.

Some of the national parks in the Kingdom include: Aseer National Park, al-Ahsa National Park, Unaizah National Park, Taif National Park, Mashar National Park in Hail, and Saad National Park in Riyadh.