The heritage villages in Asir region are no longer just architectural landmarks preserving the features of the past; they have become vibrant cultural and tourism spaces hosting seminars, poetry evenings, folk performances, and handicraft exhibitions. They contribute to strengthening national identity and boosting tourism activity, as part of the growing interest in heritage as a pillar of sustainable development and achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

Asir region is one of the richest in the Kingdom in terms of heritage villages, with over 4,000 heritage villages distributed across its various governorates. Among the most famous are Rijal in Rijal Alma' governorate, Tabab northwest of Abha, Al Yanfa' in a development center southeast of Abha, Al Akkas northwest of Abha, Al Madanah in Al Namas governorate, and other sites that represent unique examples of mountain architecture in Saudi Arabia.

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The efforts to revive them come within national efforts that led to the registration and classification of 50,000 heritage architectural sites in the Kingdom by 2025, after the Heritage Authority added about 25,000 new sites during the past year 2025, a step reflecting the extent of interest in preserving the architectural heritage and employing it culturally and tourism.

Authentic Culture

Dr. Mohammed Al-Omari, a faculty member at King Khalid University, believes that heritage villages are inherently an integral part of culture, and therefore hosting cultural events represents a state of integration between place and content. He explained that holding seminars and intellectual activities within these villages gives events a different dimension because historical sites add cultural value beyond their architectural or historical value. Al-Omari stressed that the true value of heritage villages lies not only in their buildings, no matter how much architectural beauty and ancient structural details they possess, but in the life instilled in them through diverse cultural programs. He pointed out that the concept of culture is not limited to seminars and lectures, but also includes folk arts such as Al-Ardah and Al-Khatwa, poetry evenings, music, traditional crafts, and everything that reflects the identity of society.

He describes heritage villages as the 'body' that gives cultural programs their natural place, while those programs represent life in these sites. He noted that the continuity of cultural activities within the villages helps introduce new generations to their national identity and consolidate their connection to folk heritage through direct experience, not just through books or curricula.

Integrated Tourism and Cultural Experience

He indicated that investing in heritage villages should go beyond tourist seasons to become a sustainable cultural and development project throughout the year, by organizing training programs and workshops on Saudi hospitality etiquette, teaching folk arts, making traditional dishes, and handicrafts, in addition to allocating spaces for productive families to market their products within these villages, thus transforming them into economic, social, and cultural centers at the same time.

In recent years, heritage villages in Asir have witnessed an increase in hosting events as part of tourism and cultural season programs, which has contributed to increased visitor turnout and transformed them into destinations that combine tourism experience and cultural knowledge, in a model that reflects the success of employing architectural heritage as an economic and cultural resource simultaneously.