History and etymology

Since the pre-Islamic period, Al-Medina region has gained wide fame as a result of the emergence of the city of "Yathrib" and the influx of tribes to it, and its fame increased significantly after the Prophet's migration, to become known as "Tayyiba Al-Tayyiba" or Medina, which is the basic premise for the call to Islam and the center of the Islamic Caliphate.

The importance of Al-Medina as a major religious site lies in the presence of the Prophet's Mosque, peace be upon him, which was built in his place of residence and contains his tomb, a place of worship and visit that attracts Muslims from all over the world. In addition, Al-Madinah is home to the first mosque built in Islam, the Quba Mosque, which holds great historical value as it witnessed many important events in the history of Islam.

Geographic Information

Area and Population

The area of the Medina region is about 150,000 square kilometers, representing about 7.7% of the area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al-Madinah ranks fourth among the 13 regions in the Kingdom in terms of population, with a population of about 2,137,983 people, according to the 2022 Saudi census, representing an estimated 6.68% of the total population of the Kingdom. With an average of 14.2 people per square kilometer, Al-Madinah is one of the densely populated areas in the Kingdom.

Location

Al-Madinah is one of the 13 administrative regions in Saudi Arabia, located in the center of the western part of the country, about 625 meters above sea level. Medina is 430 kilometers north of Makkah, and a short distance of about 150 kilometers from the sea coast by the latitude. The nearest port to the region is Yanbu Al-Bahar, is located about 220 kilometers southwest.

In addition, the area is about 980 kilometers from the capital, Riyadh. Al-Medina region ranks third in terms of area among the Kingdom's 13 regions, reflecting its geographical and economic importance in the country.

Climate

The climate of Al-Madinah is characterized by a very dry and hot desert character, as the seasons of the year are characterized by drought and scarce rainfall, especially in winter, and temperatures increase significantly during the summer, as the temperature exceeds the barrier of 45 degrees Celsius, and the humidity is about 22%. In winter, temperatures range between 10 and 25 degrees Celsius, and humidity rises to about 35%, with dry and hot southwesterly winds that increase the feeling of heat.

Cities and governorates of the region

Yanbu Governorate

Yanbu Governorate is located in the heart of Saudi Arabia's Medina region, on the coasts of the Red Sea, giving it a strategic and attractive location for residents and visitors alike. Slightly from Madinah's administrative center and almost a thousand kilometers from the capital Riyadh, Yanbu shines with three unique cities, reflecting their diverse and rich aspects, from the beauty of the coast in Yanbu Al-Bahar, to the agricultural richness of Yanbu Al-Nakhl, to the thriving industrial activity in Yanbu Industrial.

Badr Governorate

Badr Governorate is in the southwestern corner of Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia, about 150 km from Al-Madinah. Badr is strategically located among four of the largest cities in the country: Mecca, Medinah, Yanbu Industrial City, and Jeddah. Makkah is about 310 kilometers to the northwest, Yanbu about 85 kilometers to the southeast, and Jeddah about 270 kilometers to the north.

AlUla Governorate

Al-Ula Governorate is one of the governorates located in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it is also one of the governorates of the emirate of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Region.

Al-Hanakiyah Governorate

Al-Hanakiyah Governorate, known as the eastern gate of Najd, is considered one of the prominent governorates in Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia, and ranks third in the region in terms of size after the administrative capital Al-Medinah. Al-Hanakiyah is located on the eastern side of the administrative boundaries of Al-Medinah region and includes a valley that is one of the important valleys in which the spread of Al-Dom shrubs increases. The governorate is characterized by its height above sea level of about 700 meters, and constitutes the link between Al-Medina region and the Al-Qassim and Hail regions, as it passes through the highway that connects the western region and the eastern region. The governorate is 105 km from Al-Madinah, and is bordered to the north by the Hail region, to the south by the Mahd Al-Dhahab Governorate, to the east by the Qassim region and the Riyadh region, and to the west by the province of Khaybar and Medina.

Mahd Al-Dhahab Governorate

Mahd Al-Dhahab Governorate, also known as "Al-Mahd", is one of the governorates of Al-Medinah Province in Saudi Arabia. Formerly known as Ma'aden Bani Salim, it includes more than 154 villages, including the village of Quway'iyah, the village of Tharb, the village of Salhaniya, and others. Radioisotopes remaining from mining tailings in this area were used to determine their age, and it was found that they date back to about 961 B.C., making them synchronized with the period when the Prophet of God Sulieman was king.

Khayber Province

Khaybar Province is located in the west of Saudi Arabia, in Al-Madinah region, and is famous for its historical importance as one of the important sites in the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Battle of Khaybar province took place in the seventh year of the Hijra.

Khaybar Province is one of the ancient provinces in the Medina region, as it was established in 1341 A.H. / 1923 A.D., and it is the first governorate from the northern side to join Saudi rule.

The governorate is classified under category (B), and consists of nine centers, making it the fifth largest governorate in Al-Madinah region after the administrative capital, Al-Medinah.

Al Eis Governorate

Al-Eis, a Saudi governorate belonging to Al-Madinah region and classified under category (B). It has a large area of about 28,630 square kilometers, in which most areas are distributed between mountainous heights, valleys, and Seoul streams, giving it a charming landscape. The province is characterized by the abundance of palm trees that produce the finest dates in the region, making it a major destination for lovers of this luxurious fruit.

Wadi Al-Fara Governorate

Wadi Al-Fara is one of the governorates of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, located in the southern side of Medina, about 110 kilometers away. It covers an area of 2164.8 square kilometers and has nearly 30,000 inhabitants. Drinking water is provided to the population from a variety of sources, as the Ministry of Health's water network provides the main water supply, in addition to the wells scattered in the area from which water is transported to meet the needs of the population.