Hail – Saudi Arabia

Hail, which is called an oasis city, is located to the North West of Saudi Arabia and it is the capital of the Hail province. It is situated in the Shammar mountain region and its location has religious significance as it is a transit point for pilgrims proceeding to Mecca on pilgrimage. It is situated to the south of the great Nafud Desert, which is notorious as one of the most inhospitable places on the earth. However, Hail provides a welcome sight to the weary eyes of a tired traveler – the traveler who is tired of seeing sand and barren land everywhere. Any visitor here would be welcomed by green palm groves and green vegetable plantations. The city of Hail derived its prosperity due to its location on the camel caravan route of the pilgrims. The city is named after the wife of the famous Caliph Harun Al Rashid. The souq or the local market place in the city of Hail was quite famous, where local tradesmen and abroad bought and sold goods. Hail is quite well known for its agricultural produce which includes vegetables, fruits, wheat and barley.

A visitor or tourist to this city would find a number of places of interest to be seen. Hail has a souq which is located near the Barzan Palace, but now it no longer looks like a souq – it has become a modern shopping plaza. The historic Barzan Palace, which is located here, was built in the year 1808 and spans over an area of 300,000 square meters. There is another palace here, which is made of mud, which is called the Qishlah Palace.

The Hail Desert Life Festival is held here annually where cultural exchanges take place. The city has a cultural center, which has a number of halls for artistic exhibitions, a museum, a public library, and halls for conducting meetings or giving performances. There are several palaces and fortresses of historic importance in and around Hail. Other places of interest which would attract the tourist would be the historic Zubaida Route, and a number of historic wells and lakes.

Hail has been transformed into a modern city by its developmental programs. Modern expressways link it to the cities of Riyadh, Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah. Two large modern hospitals offer state-of-the-art medical service backed by about eighty primary health care clinics in the city and adjoining areas. There was no formal school in Hail until 1937, when the first primary school was set up. A modern educational system was responsible for setting up of hundreds of nursery, primary, and secondary schools. There are also a few colleges as well as vocational training institutes.

There are more than thirty gardens and twenty five landscaped areas in the city of Hail. The most famous of the parks is the Mashar Park, which has a 65 square meter artificial lake and a 300 meter high waterfall. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) has planned Hail to be an Economic City by the end of 2025. The city is expected to have an area of 156 million square meters and will provide housing for about 300,000 people. The city will bolster regional development, build infrastructure, and contribute to the country’s development and economic growth.