Rainy Abha alive with color as jacaranda trees bloom
Scores of picnickers and tourists have been drawn to areas like Art Street where the blossoms provide a picturesque backdrop
Asir is home to more than 15,000 jacaranda trees, some of which can grow to a height of 18 meters (60 feet)
Updated 13 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: After the recent rains in Asir, the city of Abha is awash with color as the jacaranda trees that line its streets spring into life.
Scores of picnickers and tourists have been drawn to areas like Art Street where the blossoms provide a picturesque backdrop to the hustle and bustle of the city, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Asir region is home to more than 15,000 jacaranda trees, some of which can grow to a height of 18 meters (60 feet).
The jacaranda genus, which comprises about 45 species of trees and shrubs, is known for its ability to thrive in temperate regions. Within the Kingdom, the trees are mostly cultivated in moderate regions to the south.
Najran's mountainous parts are blessed with temperate climate and abundant water resources, suitable for sugarcane production
Updated 07 December 2025
Arab News
NAJRAN: Farmers in Saudi Arabia's southwestern region of Najran have found that sugarcane production is a viable enterprise, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported.
One farmer, Ibrahim Shakwan, confirmed to SPA the success of his 7.3-hectare sugarcane farm and noted "growing regional interest due to its high productivity and lucrative economic returns."
Najran was chosen as a trial area for sugarcane production owing to the temperate climate, diverse soils, and abundant water resources in its mountainous parts. The experiment is in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which calls for enhancing food security and self-sufficiency.
Others regions in the Kingdom's southwest, such as Jazan, Asir and Baha, have similar features as Najran.
Sugarcane is easily propagated via cuttings that yield a high number of plantable pieces. (SPA)
Sugarcane is easily propagated via cuttings that yield a high number of plantable pieces. Planting occurs primarily in the summer, although seedlings can be planted year-round.
Effective cultivation methods include selecting disease-resistant varieties, proper soil preparation, and balanced irrigation and fertilization, according to the report.
The crop is harvested approximately eight months after planting, with fertilization ending three months before and irrigation ceasing 20 days prior to harvest to boost sugar concentration and improve juice quality, which is rich in natural sugars, vitamins, and minerals.
Several countries in the Middle East have long been growing sugarcane, with Egypt and Iran as key producers.
Botanists believe sugarcane was first cultivated 10,000 years ago in what is now New Guinea in the southwest Pacific Ocean, where the environment is humid, according to an article titled Sugar Please, published in the Aramcoworld magazine in 2012.
