RIYADH: The King Abdul Aziz Palace in Al-Muwayh in Makkah province was built in 1357 AH of stone in an ancient Islamic architectural style amid the ruins of mud houses. It was the residence of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz. He used to rest in it during his trips between Riyadh and Makkah and on his way to Hajj, Umrah or summer vacation.
Whenever King Abdul Aziz arrived in Al-Muwayh, he was received by its governor, judge and the governorate’s officials. In addition to meeting them and urging them to look into the citizens’ issues, the king would also meet the locals, discuss their concerns and explore their needs.
King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) said the palace occupied an area of 14,850 square meters and played a significant role in turning the arid desert into a modern city with decent living standards.
Al-Muwayh, a name derived from “Ma’a”, meaning water in Arabic, is 180 kilometers east of Taif. King Abdul Aziz rested here several times in his quest to unite the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Fouad Shaker, author of “Rihlat Al-Rabi’e” (The Journey of Spring), published by Darah, wrote about King Abdul Aziz’s trip from Makkah to Riyadh in 1365 AH: “From Makkah to Riyadh, we had reached Al-Muwayh, a small village made big by its luxurious architecture, one of the privileges of this glorious Saudi era. The government of King Abdul Aziz had built in that remote and unknown area a luxurious royal place for the king to rest during his travels between Makkah and Riyadh.”
Darah explained that the palace was designed in different forms for fortification and defense, creating a structure with outstanding architectural specifications, surrounded on all sides by walls built of black stone 4.5 meters high and 90 centimeters thick. The complex comprises the royal palace, which is a rectangular building located on the western side of the citadel. It has two entrances, the first of which is the main entrance from the south. It contains several building blocks with 19 benches to the left after entering through the main north gate, the official “Al-Mokhtasar” assembly hall, a dining room, a bedroom and a toilet.
The complex also includes a guest palace, which is a rectangular building adjacent to the royal palace to the east and comprises a range of rooms overlooking the open courtyard with a 3.4-meter-wide main entrance from the north.
In addition, the palace has several towers, two coffee-making rooms, toilets, lodgings for guests, guards and servants, a gas station outside the southern side of the citadel, lodging for the gas station’s workers, and the residential palace, which is a rectangular building in the center of the citadel on the southern side.
The residential palace has six rooms, four of which are bedrooms and one is a living room, in addition to a kitchen, a storage room and a toilet. It also includes lodging for workers, while the towers and attached buildings accommodate the palace’s staff and their families. Sometimes, they were used to accommodate non-official guests. Sheep sheds and warehouses for feed and firewood are located in the eastern part of the residential palace’s courtyard.
Moreover, the King Abdul Aziz Palace compound contains the administrative palace, which is a rectangular building with two entrances, one from the south and the other from the east, in addition to two other entrances, the first of which leads to the mosque while the second leads to the residential palace.
A medium-size mosque is located to the west of the administrative palace and adjacent to the judge’s residence. It has an open-air rectangular courtyard that stretches over 22 meters from west to east and 19.90 meters from north to south.
The judge’s office is located north of the mosque in the palace compound. It is a rectangular building with six rooms, a small hall and a courtyard.
The palace has six observation towers, two of which rise above the northern and southern gates while the remaining four are in the corners of the citadel to secure and defend the palace.
The average length of the north, west and southeastern elevations is 155 meters, while the average length of the south, west and northeastern elevations is 120 meters. The palace’s main gate is in the center of the northwestern elevation, and another gate was set up in the southeastern elevation to serve as an entrance to the emirate.
According to Darah, the airport in which the king’s first airplane landed is northeast of the King Abdul Aziz Palace and the ancient city of Al-Muwayh. The airport comprises a four-room reception hall, a sandpit, and a mosque named King Abdul Aziz Mosque amid the mud houses. The mosque has maintained its original structure but was damaged, making it unfit for holding prayers after Al-Muwayh was transferred to the new location known as the New Al-Muwayh on the Riyadh-Taif highway.
King Abdul Aziz Palace: A perfect blend of history and architecture
King Abdul Aziz Palace: A perfect blend of history and architecture
- The palace has six observation towers, two of which rise above the northern and southern gates while the remaining four are in the corners of the citadel to secure and defend the palace
- The complex comprises the royal palace, which is a rectangular building located on the western side of the citadel
The secret keepers of desert balance in Saudi Arabia
- How the Kingdom’s wildcats control pests, protect public health, and sustain the ecosystem
RIYADH: During the summer of 2024, two desert lynx kittens were born in Taif as part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts to protect and increase the population of caracals in the country.
Although caracals are critically endangered, wildcats in general play a significant ecological role in the Kingdom. They act as natural pest control, and Saudi Arabia is committed to conserving these species while increasing their populations to support a thriving ecosystem.
Despite the Kingdom’s harsh, arid climate, conditions are suitable for wildcats not only to survive but also to flourish. Among the terrestrial species inhabiting Saudi Arabia are sand cats, Arabian wildcats, and the desert lynx.
Felis margarita, or sand cats, are small — around 40-60 cm — with pale sandy fur that allows them to blend into the desert. They have a broad head, large ears, and long hair on the bottom of their feet to walk on hot sand.
“It is small in size and does not mate with other cats. It is the only cat species in the world with hair on the soles of its feet instead of skin to prevent it from sinking into the sand,” said Obaid Alouni, a Saudi environmentalist.
Alouni explained that one defensive technique sand cats use is to lie flat on the ground to avoid detection.
“It lies flat on the ground when it senses danger to avoid being noticed by other animals.”
These cats primarily feed on rodents and small reptiles, occasionally large insects, obtaining their water from their prey. Sand cats are native to West Asia and help regulate rodent and insect populations, preventing outbreaks and reducing disease spread.
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Interestingly, raising sand cats as domestic pets is becoming more popular, Alouni said. But he emphasized that adoption is easier when they are kittens, as they remain wild animals. Although widely distributed across the Kingdom, exact population numbers are difficult to determine due to their elusive nature. They are currently listed as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Similar to sand cats, Arabian wildcats (Felis lybica) are found across the Arabian Peninsula and play a vital role in environmental health.
“They are wild cats that live independently without human intervention,” Alouni told Arab News.
Arabian wildcats resemble domestic cats but have thicker, sandy to grey-brown coats with faint stripes or spots and ringed tails with blunt tips. Like sand cats, they feed on rodents, birds, reptiles, and insects and are listed as “least concern” by the IUCN.
However, Alouni warned that pure populations of Arabian wildcats in Saudi Arabia could be threatened by hybridization with domestic cats.
“Currently, wild cats face the problem of interbreeding with domestic cats. This weakens their immune systems and makes them more susceptible to diseases from other cats,” he said.
“This contributes to the extinction of the purebred lineage and, consequently, the disappearance of their wild instincts,” he added.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Sand cats are the only cat species with hair on the soles of their feet, allowing them to walk on hot sand without sinking.
• Caracals, locally known as Al-Washaq, are native and endangered, capable of jumping 3 to 4 meters in a single leap.
• Pure populations of the Arabian wildcat are at risk due to hybridization with domestic cats.
While both species are desert dwellers, sand cats are harder to spot as they avoid heavily trafficked areas. They are mainly found in the Ad Dahna desert and the Empty Quarter, where sand dunes dominate the landscape. Arabian wildcats, however, inhabit rocky or mountainous areas such as the Tuwaiq Mountains, valleys, and farms with abundant small prey.
“Wild cats come around towns and villages, and unfortunately, begin mating with domesticated cats that people release outside,” Alouni explained. He stressed the importance of keeping domestic cats away from wildcat habitats, including deserts and camping sites.
The third wildcat species native to Saudi Arabia, the caracal or desert lynx, is critically endangered. “The lynx is classified in size between large and small, and is distinguished by its jump, which can reach 3 meters or even 4 meters in the sky,” Alouni described.
Locally known as Al-Washaq, desert lynx have reddish-tan coats, long legs, and black-tufted ears. They feed on birds, rodents, and sometimes small antelopes. Thankfully, these cats are protected under Saudi law due to their critically endangered status.
Hunting any sand cats, Arabian wildcats, or desert lynx can result in fines of approximately $20,000, according to the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture.
“There is a very severe financial penalty in Saudi Arabia for anyone who hunts it,” Alouni added.
The Kingdom has strict regulations to protect endangered animals, criminalizing not only hunting or killing but also trade. Violators could face penalties of up to $8 million, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
Overall, sand cats, Al-Washaq, and Arabian wildcats are essential to maintaining a healthy environment in Saudi Arabia. By controlling rodent populations, they help prevent outbreaks that could threaten agriculture and public health.
