Al-Arid

Al-Arid is a geographical region located on the Najd Plateau. It includes Mount al-Arid (Tuwaiq) and the surrounding area, encompassing an oasis, springs, wells, and orchards abundant with palm trees, as well as several villages and towns. This name is also used to refer to Riyadh City, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its surroundings.

Al-Arid, was previously called al-Yamamah, Arid al-Yamamah, or Tuwaiq. It is believed that the name was derived from a transverse mountain in al-Yamamah.

Several towns are associated with al-Arid region, including Diriyah to the north, along with Azrah, Abu Kabash, al-Ammariyah, al-Jubailah, and al-Uyaynah. South of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom, lies Manfuhah, al-Masani', and Ha'ir Sabi', while to the west is Udrumah. Further south lies al-Ghatghat, followed by al-Barrah, which is the first town in the southern part of al-Washm.

Several valleys flow eastward from al-Arid, passing through cities, villages, and farmlands, expanding into fertile plains and steppes as they move further east away from Mount al-Arid. In contrast, the western side has fewer and less notable valleys due to its higher elevation and the absence of extensive watercourses.

Among the valleys of al-Arid is Wadi Hanifah, also known as ‘Aridh Bani Hanifah’, and today referred to as ‘al-Batin’. In the past, it was considered one of the fertile valleys of the Arabian Peninsula and was known for its dense population and urban settlements. Villages, farms, and tributary valleys are spread along its banks. Other valleys include Marakh, al-Mishqar and its tributaries, Juwa, Wadi al-Miyah, Wadi al-Faqi (Sudair), Arat, al-Atak, Ubaythiran, al-Bayr, al-Sufrat, and al-Hisi.

In the eighth and ninth centuries, the name al-Arid referred to the mountain range of al-Yamamah, which stretches across the central part of the Arabian Peninsula from north to south. It begins in the north, just above al-Zulfi, and extends southward to al-Rub' al-Khali (Empty Quarter), south of al-Salil, covering approximately one thousand km. From west to east, it gradually slopes downward toward the east. This mountain range is known as Tuwaiq, named for its encircling shape that encompasses a significant part of the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.

In more recent times, specifically in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the name al-Arid came to refer to a part of al-Yamamah Mountain or Tuwaiq Mountain, specifically the area between al-Shu'aib and al-Kharj, meaning Riyadh and its surroundings, or the area extending from Thadiq in the north to al-Kharj in the south.

The name al-Arid was mentioned by Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, in his account to Fuad Hamzah about the recapture of Riyadh, where he stated: "Then we marched toward al-Arid," referring to Riyadh.