Ḥa'il Province
Ḥaʼil Province (Arabic: مِنْطَقَة حَائِل Minṭaqat Ḥāʾil), also known as the Ha'il Region, is one of the 13 provinces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the eighth-largest province by area at 103,887 km2 (40,111 sq mi) and the ninth-largest by population, with the population in 2019 being 731,147. The province accounts for roughly 2% of the population of the country and is named for its largest city, Ha'il. Other populous cities in the province include al-Ghazalah, Shinan and Baq'aa. The region is famous for the twin mountain ranges of 'Aja and Salma, and for being the homeland of historic symbol of curiosity and generosity, Hatim al-Ta`i.
Ḥaʼil Province
مِنْطَقَة حَائِل | |
|---|---|
Aja landscape in the Shammar Mountains | |
Map of Saudi Arabia with Ha'il highlighted | |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Capital | Ha'il |
| Boroughs | 9 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Abdulaziz bin Saad Al Saud |
| • Vice Governor | Faisal bin Fahd bin Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Area | |
| • Total | 103,887 km2 (40,111 sq mi) |
| Population (2017) | |
| • Total | 699,774 |
| • Density | 6.7/km2 (17/sq mi) |
The province is popular for hosting the geographically and historically important twin mountain ranges of 'Aja and Salma, which are now areas protected by the Saudi Wildlife Authority. In addition, multiple rock art sites can be found in the province, two sites of which have been added to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site List; Jabal Umm Sinman near Jubbah and Jabal al-Manjur. Multiple old forts and castles can be found in the region, especially in and around the capital, Ha'il. Another important site in the province are the sandstone formations, such as the Nafud al-Kabir formation.
The area is known to have been inhabited since at least the Paleolithic period, with several archaeological sites dating back to 10000 BC to 7500 BC. Several sites with archaeological rock art and other artifacts have been found in the province. The province is inhabited by members of the Shammar tribe, who ruled the area and other areas surrounding the province from 1791 to 1922 as the Emirate of Jabal Shammar; when King Abdulaziz conquered the region.
The province is divided into 8 governorates, and more than two-thirds of the population of the city lives in the capital city of Ha'il. The incumbent Provincial Governor is 'Abdulaziz ibn Sa'ad al-Sa'ud. It is bordered, clockwise from the north, by the Northern Borders Province, Eastern Province, Qassim Province, Madinah Province, Tabuk Province and Al Jawf Province.