Aliyat Najd: Geographic and Historical Heartland of the Kingdom

   Taif, November 10, 2025, SPA -- Aliyat Najd (High Najd) is a major highland in the heart of Saudi Arabia, noted for its rich blend of history and diverse geography, serving as a link between the Hejaz and Central Arabia.
   Its most significant landmark is Jabal Hudn (Mount Hudn), the highest peak in Najd located just north of Turubah Governorate. Soaring to an elevation of approximately 1,656 meters above sea level, it was historically an essential navigational guide. Its visibility from the west gave rise to the famous Arabic adage: “He who sees Hudn has entered Najd.”
   The region's diverse terrain of mountains, plateaus, and expansive valleys attracts explorers.
   Culturally, Aliyat Najd encompasses historic governorates and heritage villages that retain their authentic Najdi identity, reflected in their architecture and markets. Historians emphasize the region's importance due to numerous archaeological sites and historical inscriptions that attest to a long history of human settlement supported by its rich pastoral and agricultural environment. It is regarded as a symbol of regional identity and a living memory of the Arabian Peninsula's history.
   -- SPA