Al-Akkas Village

Al-Akkas Village is one of the historic villages in Aseer Province, located southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. With a history spanning over three hundred years, it is considered one of the oldest heritage villages. The village features military forts and approximately fifty traditional houses and buildings.

Al-Akkas Village is located west of Abha City, surrounded by a valley called Tahlal Valley, with Ashran Valley Dam overlooking the area.

The palaces and houses in al-Akkas Village were built using a multi-story system. Its forts and castles are notable for their organized layout toward the north, starting from the main mosque, with well-coordinated pathways, entrances, and public squares. These include areas such as al-Kuthban, leading to the large welcoming area known as al-Mashwa'ah, a flat and spacious venue used for hosting village guests and holding both formal and traditional social events, and ending with Zahwan.

At the center of the heritage village lies the historic mosque, alongside an area known as al-Jarn, which serves as an essential station for threshing and cleaning grains after harvest. At one end of al-Jarn is al-Manzaf, carefully located to avoid wind barriers and aligned with eastern and western wind directions for optimal functionality.

Al-Akkas Village is distinguished by a water conservation system known as Kadm al-Maa, used to irrigate farms and ensure equitable water distribution among farmers based on the size of their agricultural lands. Additionally, the village features a facility called al-Hassu, specifically designed for watering livestock and animals, with a carefully regulated layout in its pathways and structure.

Al-Akkas Village has been renowned for its educational institutions over the centuries, particularly for its numerous Katateeb (traditional Quranic schools), which have produced scholars, judges, writers, intellectuals, and military figures. The main mosque in the village served as a center of learning during that time.

On September 22, 2020, the Aseer Development Authority signed a contract to develop several heritage villages as part of the Humanizing Heritage Villages project in the province. This included the development of al-Akkas Village in Abha, al-Qariyah Village in Tanumah Governorate, al-Khalaf Village in Sarat Abidah Governorate, and al-Yanfa' Village in Tamanyah Center.