Saudi Arabia’s Tuwaiq Mountains and Qiddiya Project

Post by : Bandanpreet Kaur

Photo: SPA

The Tuwaiq Mountains in Saudi Arabia have stood tall for thousands of years. They have seen many civilizations, nations, and people come and go. These mountains hold old messages, carvings, and records on their rocks that remain for a long time. People living around them have always gained strength and hope from these strong mountains.

The Tuwaiq Mountains are very important for Saudi Arabia. They stretch for over 800 kilometers in the central Najd region. They start from Al-Thuwayrat sands, north of Al-Zulfi Governorate, and go about 1,000 kilometers south until they disappear into the Empty Quarter desert. Around these mountains are fertile lands called Al-Yamamah, full of palm trees, farms, towns, and villages. Many big valleys flow from the slopes of these mountains.

These mountains form a huge arc or ring that can even be seen from space. Their sharp peaks stand for strength and courage. The eastern side of the mountain slopes down gently, while the western side is steeper. Many valleys cut through the eastern side. The most famous is Wadi Hanifa, where Riyadh city is located. Other valleys like Al-Atk, Al-Sulayyil, and Al-Faw divide the mountains completely from west to east. Old historians like Al-Hamdani and Al-Bakri wrote about the landmarks and valleys of these mountains in detail.

Long ago, even before Islam, many cities and villages in southern and central Najd were built near the Tuwaiq Mountains and their valleys. Earlier, the mountains were called Jabal Al-Aridh or Aridh Al-Yamamah. This name is still used today. The Al-Aridh region, which includes Riyadh and places like Dhurma, Al-Muzahmiyya, Diriyah, and Al-Uyaynah, is named because it lies within these mountains. The mountains also act like a natural wall between the villages of Sudair to the east and Al-Washm to the west, with Wadi Al-Bateen in the western part.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman once said, “The strength of the Saudis is like that of the Tuwaiq Mountain.” He said this to inspire the youth of Saudi Arabia to be strong like these mountains and stay connected to their roots.

Today, under Vision 2030, one of Saudi Arabia’s biggest projects is Qiddiya City. It is being built by the Qiddiya Investment Company and focuses on entertainment, sports, and culture. Qiddiya City is located in the Tuwaiq Mountains, about 45 kilometers away from Riyadh. King Salman laid its foundation stone on April 28, 2018.

The Crown Prince said that Qiddiya City is a very important part of Vision 2030. It will help Saudi Arabia earn money from different sources apart from oil. He also said that Qiddiya will soon become one of the top places in the world for entertainment, sports, and culture.

This project will add SAR135 billion every year to the country’s income and create 325,000 new jobs in more than 200 types of work. Qiddiya is bringing in both Saudi and foreign investors, which will help businesses grow in Riyadh and the whole country.

A historian, Dr. Rashid Al-Asaker, shared that the name Qiddiya comes from the word ‘qid,’ meaning a cleft in the mountain. He said the Qiddiya road is over 3,000 years old and cuts through the Tuwaiq Mountains from west to east, starting from the ancient city of Hajar Al-Yamamah. There are many old carvings and historical sites around it. King Abdulaziz restored this road in 1352 AH.

Qiddiya will cover more than 360 square kilometers. It will have unique attractions like Speed Park Track with the world’s first cantilevered track called The Blade, Six Flags Qiddiya City’s Falcons Flight which will be the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in the world, and Aquarabia, the biggest water park in the region.

The name Tuwaiq is special for every Saudi. It is not just a mountain but also a part of their memory and history. It reminds them of their ancestors, trade caravans, and the people who turned the desert into a great land. The Tuwaiq name is used in many places – like Tuwaiq Palace in Riyadh for cultural events, a neighborhood in western Riyadh, a sports club in Al-Zulfi, a magazine called Sada Tuwaiq, and many streets in Riyadh, Dhahran, Al-Majmaah, and other cities in Saudi Arabia.

Tuwaiq Mountains