Al-Sabeen Dam

Al-Sabeen Dam is one of the oldest and most prominent landmarks of Rawdat Sudair, located northwest of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is over four centuries old, and its remnants still exist. It consists of seventy outlets through which excess water flows above the flood level in Sudair.

The construction of this historical dam dates back to 1647, and it has been a source of numerous benefits for the people of Rawdat Sudair throughout history. It has provided the water needed for irrigating their farms, particularly given that Rawdat Sudair is the highest town in Wadi al-Faqi and the first to receive the valley's waters. Prior to the dam's construction, the flow of water in the valley was meager, benefiting only a small portion of the area. Recognizing this, the residents decided to build a barrier that would elevate the water level to reach the town's palm trees and farms for irrigation. Any excess water would naturally flow downstream through Wadi al-Faqi to benefit the rest of Sudair's palm trees and farms.

The idea of building the dam wasn't initially well-received, making its construction challenging at the start. However, once it was built, a barrier was established and it was given seventy outlets, which are still referred to as al-Sabeen (seventy). When the water rises above these seventy outlets, it indicates a significant flood, and it is said, al-Sabeen has overflowed. This is further added to Rumayzan so it is said, al-Sabeen Rumayzan has overflowed. Since then, up to the present day, the Rawdah has been receiving a significant share of water from this valley.

Rumayzan Bin Ghasham played a vital role in the establishment of Rawdah Sudair. He ruled it for twenty-two years. One of his most significant achievements was building al-Sabeen Dam and making a water path for each farm, which was built of compressed stones with a width of one m and a height of two to three m.

Despite the absence of advanced capabilities and engineering knowledge at the time, the design and implementation of al-Sabeen Dam remain remarkable, as it was the hard work of the town's people. Today, the dam serves as a classic reference to al-Sabeen Flood during flood surges, reinforcing the historical significance of Rawdat Sudair.