Al-Darb Governorate

Al-Darb Governorate is one of the governorates in Jazan Province, southwestern Saudi Arabia. It is classified as Category (B) and has four administrative centers. It is home to approximately 4.9 percent of the population of Jazan, with around 69,000 residents, according to the latest population census.

Al-Darb Governorate is located north of Jazan Province, about 125 km from Jizan. It is bordered by the Maraba Center to the east, al-Shuqaiq Center to the west, Reem Center to the north, and Atoud Center to the south.

Al-Darb is a coastal governorate connected by land to the main cities on the western coastal line of the Kingdom through Highway 5, which serves as the main transport route for access and travel to and from Al-Darb.

Due to its location on the southern border of Aseer Province, Abha International Airport is the nearest airport to al-Darb, located 105 km northeast of the governorate. King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Airport, the main airport for Jazan, is 132 km south of al-Darb. It is a regional airport that can accommodate approximately 900,000 passengers annually.

Al-Darb Governorate is located on the international road extending from the Kingdom's borders with Yemen in Jazan Province, and branching in al-Darb Governorate to Makkah al-Mukarramah Province in the west and Aseer Province in the east. It attracts over 500,000 tourists and visitors annually who enjoy its mild spring weather, warm beaches and valleys in winter, pristine wilderness parks, public gardens, and recreational areas. Additionally, al-Darb Governorate hosts shopping and entertainment festivals during the spring season.

The governorate is home to several tourist and natural sites that attract visitors. The public park in the governorate, which spans an estimated area of 81,759 m, is one of the prominent tourist attractions. The park offers a variety of amenities including jogging and bike paths, wheelchair-accessible paths, waterway and fountains, a viewpoint, a waterfall, green spaces, an event venue, children's play areas, a 35,000 m2 water park, a 10,000 m2 horseback riding area, and designated dining areas.

The tourist attractions in al-Darb Governorate include Reem Center to the north, which stands out with its diverse terrain, mountainous landscapes, and green plains. It encompasses several large valleys, including Wadi Reem, known for its stunning natural beauty, flowing waters, lush land, and dense trees.

At Atoud Center of al-Darb Governorate, winter tourism is also flourishing. It boasts a unique location on the Red Sea coast, north of the city of Jazan, at a distance of over 130 km. Atoud Beach, stretching for about thirty km with its sandy dunes, is a preferred attraction for many picnickers. Surrounded by greenery, Atoud Sands Park and Akad Mountain showcase the beauty of Wadi Atoud's reefs, which embrace streams from the Sarawat Mountains. Atoud has abundant flowing water in the valleys of Atoud, Bayd, and Rimalan, forming a vital resource for the residents of Atoud and the entire al-Darb Governorate. They engage in crop farming, cultivating high-quality corn (red and white varieties), sorghum, and sesame. They are the primary source of livestock feed production.