City of Hail
The city of Hail is situated in the
Shammar mountain region, west of the Al-Odairie valley, also known as the Hail
valley. It has special historic significance. It is also a transit point for
pilgrims heading towards Makkah Al Mukarramah from Iraq and Syria.
The city extends in the shape of a bow around the Shammar Mountain. It is surrounded to the west
by the Aja and the Umm-Al-Riqab mounts as well as the
Salma mount to the north and east.
Hail has been transformed into a modern city,
having undergone comprehensive development. It is now linked via modern
expressways to Riyadh,
Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Al Madinah Al Munawarah and Jeddah.
There are more than thirty gardens in the city and
twenty-five landscaped areas, covering an area of 1,735,163 square meters. The
city's public parks include Al Rasuf, Ugdah, Janeiri and Ghar
Al Majma in addition to Hail's public park and Mashar Park,
which includes a 65-square-meter artificial lake and a 300-meter-high
waterfall.
Hail's cultural center includes a number of halls
for artistic exhibitions, a permanent exhibition center and a popular museum in
addition to a theater, public library and other halls for meetings and
lectures.
The city contains several historic palaces and
fortresses, some dating the Ottoman era in addition to ancient Thammadi
artifacts, the historic Zubaida
Route and a host of ancient lakes and wells. Hail
is also known for its agricultural products, including vegetables, fruit, wheat
and barley. Hail City is the provincial capital and
headquarters of the Governor, local councils and branches of governmental
departments.
