Abha

Situated at 2,200 metres in the Asir highlands, Abha is the administrative capital of Asir region and one of the coolest cities in Saudi Arabia, regularly receiving mist and light rainfall during summer months when the rest of the country is extremely hot. The city's heritage architecture features the colourful geometric wall paintings distinctive to Asiri women, used to decorate both interior and exterior walls. The surrounding plateau offers views across terraced mountain slopes descending toward the coastal Tihama escarpment.