Shadda Palace
Shadda Palace, also known as the White Palace, is a historical heritage palace and an urban cultural landmark. It is located in Aseer Province, southwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was built in 1929, during the reign of the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. The palace served as the residence of the province's governor.
Construction of Shadda Palace
Shadda Palace is located specifically in the center of Abha City, about 750 m from the seat of the Emirate of Aseer Province and 450 m from the Traditional Tuesday Market site. Its construction was directed by King Abdulaziz, who recommended that Abdul Wahab Abu Malha, the finance director of Abha at the time, build the palace. The palace was built of stone. The interior and exterior sides of its walls were covered with a layer of gypsum. The palace consists of four floors connected by a two-m-wide staircase. The width of the walls on the ground floor is 135 cm, and on the upper floor is sixty cm. Wood was used to make doors, windows, and ceilings.
The palace features the characteristics of local architecture. It resembles rock-hewn structures. It consists of several floors, each narrowing as one moves upward. Its corners are adorned with decorative motifs, while elongated openings and the upper floor are embellished with cornices.
Conversion of Shadda Palace into a museum
Shadda Palace was converted into a museum of traditional heritage. It was restored in 1987. The museum was opened to the public after its completion in 1988. The palace houses rooms that contain old household items, as well as some manuscripts, coins, and photographs that reflect the life of Abha City in the second half of the last century.
In 2017, the palace was inscribed under the Saudi National Architectural Heritage Register. The register is concerned with registering, protecting, and rehabilitating architectural heritage sites and documenting relevant information and studies. Since then, the palace became a tourist attraction that is open to the public.
Sources
Antiquities of Aseer Province. Ahmed Al-Zuaili, Abdullah Al-Zahrani, Hamid Al-Mazroua, Abdulaziz Al-Amri, and Mohammed Al-Sulook. 2003.