Al-Baha: With its fertile lands and diverse terrain, Al-Baha Region stands as a leading model for sustainable agricultural development in the Kingdom, encompassing 19 agricultural cities that enhance food security, support the local economy, and preserve natural resources in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Director General of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture's Al-Baha branch, Fahd bin Miftah Al-Zahrani, stated that the region recorded an average annual rainfall of 389 millimeters last year. This rainfall facilitated the storage of water in 58 dams of varying capacities, including agricultural dams with capacities reaching up to 2 million cubic meters.
He added that Al-Baha encompasses 19 agricultural cities covering a total area of nearly 36.7 million square meters. These include a pomegranate city with 120,000 trees, a grape city with 70,000 trees, two almond cities with 150,000 trees, and seven coffee cities hosting 1.517 million trees. The region also features a mango city with three million trees, an olive city with 200,000 trees, a banana city with 50,000 trees, and a citrus city with 40,000 trees. Additionally, there are three diversified agricultural cities with a combined total of 1.1 million trees, and a cooperative beekeeping city with 35,000 trees that serve as forage for honey-producing bees.
Al-Zahrani highlighted that these cities represent a qualitative addition to the region, actively contributing to sustainable development by creating promising job opportunities for young men and women and empowering them to help build a prosperous economic future. These projects also offer visitors the chance to explore the natural beauty of Al-Baha, including its mountainous landscapes, dense forests, and fertile valleys.
Through these projects, Al-Baha aims to strengthen its role as a food basket for the Kingdom while also enhancing its tourism appeal and economic identity. These efforts reflect a clear commitment to sustainable development by preserving natural resources, reducing reliance on food imports, and providing high-quality agricultural products to local markets.