The Old Emirate Palace in Ar'ar

The Old Emirate Palace in Ar'ar is a historic palace located in Ar'ar City in Northern Borders Province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was built during the reign of King Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 1954 to serve as the residence of the province’s governor.

The Old Emirate Palace, located in the center of Ar'ar City, spans an area of 1,485 m. Built as a single-story structure in a curved design, the palace features offices for emirate employees and reception halls for residents and visitors. It includes an internal courtyard on the western side of the palace, covering an area of 528 m. The palace’s front facade has a main gate leading to a central reception hall. The southern side houses a meeting room connected to a dining hall, while the northern side comprises several rooms.

The Old Emirate Palace is located in the center of Ar'ar City and was built to serve as the residence of the province's governor during the city's establishment. It is one of the oldest palaces built in Saudi Arabia. Specific types of hewn stones from one of the province's mountains were used in its construction. The design of the palace carefully considered the distribution of living spaces and ensured privacy.

The rooms of the palace were divided based on their purpose, with some designated for sleeping and others built for hosting guests. The courtyard of the palace features multiple chambers, organized according to needs in the northern, southern, and eastern sections. These rooms were systematically arranged and separated by partitions, all overlooking the palace's central courtyard and connected by several corridors and doors.

The Old Emirate Palace in Ar'ar underwent internal and external restoration works that preserved its original design. Efforts were made to maintain the palace in its previous state. The palace is considered a model of traditional architecture, resembling the style of ancient Islamic structures in the province.