Abha City is the capital of Aseer Province, southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and one of the key hubs forming a vast urban zone encompassing Khamis Mushayt and Ahad Rufaydah. The city has a population of 1.1 million. It is situated at an elevation of 2,270 m above sea level in the Sarawat Mountains, the highest and longest mountain range in the Kingdom. Aseer Province houses over 140 clubs and fifteen accredited football academies. After the tournament, the city will benefit from nine training facilities, including five national team camps and four training sites attached to the stadiums designated to host the global event.
Tourist destinations, landmarks, and events in Abha City
- Abha Valley Project, stretching over 2.5 million m, featuring hotels and commercial areas.
- Soudah Peaks Project: A mountain destination atop the highest peak in the Kingdom, which is three thousand m above sea level.
- SEVEN Destination: currently under development in Abha to form a large entertainment complex near Abha International Airport, offering integrated entertainment activities for families throughout the year.
Accomodation in Abha
By 2034, Abha is expected to offer more than 19,600 hotel units, meeting the Fédération Internationale de Football Association's (FIFA) standards and ensuring comfortable and suitable accommodation. Staying in Abha will also allow visitors to explore its rich cultural scene, which includes theater, music performances, and art exhibitions. The proposed hotel for VIPs and FIFA delegations is located west of the city in a mountainous area with breathtaking views, approximately twenty minutes from the airport.
Travel to Abha City
Travel to and from Abha can be accessed via Abha International Airport, which will undergo significant expansion, including a new 65,000 m passenger terminal. The upgrades will boost the airport’s capacity to ninety thousand flights and ten million passengers annually, with demand expected to reach eight million passengers by 2034. Abha City will benefit significantly from the anticipated growth in tourism activities over the coming years, supported by comprehensive development efforts in the transport sector. These efforts will focus on enhancing public transportation, light transport vehicles, pathways dedicated to pedestrians, and the ease of mobility across the city. Plans also include developing a system of tracks dedicated to rapid buses with high capacities to connect Abha International Airport with King Khalid University Stadium and a network of local bus routes to serve highly-populated areas. These services will ease fans' mobility during the tournament and support tourism growth and daily commutes. Abha City will also introduce dedicated shuttle bus services to transport fans to King Khalid University Stadium, with designated stops in other cities across Aseer Province and the center of Abha City. During the tournament, 80 percent of the city's residents will benefit from the public transportation services, which are stationed within a ten-minute walk.
Fan festivals sites
- Al-Bahar Square: A cultural and historic venue with modern design. This square is located at the center of Abha City and can accommodate up to twenty thousand fans.
- Al-Dhabab Park, located in the southern part of Abha City, is a public park featuring scenic landscapes and views overlooking the mountains in Aseer Province. The park can accommodate 25,000 fans.
The stadium that will host the FIFA World Cup 2034 matches
King Khalid University Stadium, southeast of Abha City. The stadium is scheduled to expand its capacity to over 45,000 spectators to host several matches during the FIFA World Cup 2034. The renovation will focus on modernizing the stadium's infrastructure while preserving its historic context.
Related quizzes
