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Saudi Arabian Travel Terminologies
Below are some of
the commonly used words that a traveler come across in Saudi Arabia mostly with
respect to place names. These terminologies will be useful for a better
understanding of the situation.
In addition to it, historical, geographical, anthropological and
geological terms that appeared in this site have also been added to help
those who are new to the subject.
A
Adummatu
Ancient name of Dumat Al-Jandal that was known through Assyrians
Al Hasa (Hassa or Al Ahsa)
Usually referred as "the great oasis of Al Hasa"
is located in the desert in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The
Eastern Province had been known as Al Hasa under Ottoman rule. The name
Hasa is also given to the biggest city in the Al Hasa oasis, known also
as Hofuf
Al-Hijr
Old name for Mada'in Salih
Assyrian
A member of an ancient Semitic kingdom and people of Mesopotamia
B
Bedouin
A nomadic Arab of the desert regions of Arabia
D
Dadan or Dedan
Old name for Al-Ula
Darb
Route or Way
E
Escarpment
A steep slope or cliff that mark the boundary of
a flat or gently slopping upland area such as a plateau
F
Fertile Crescent
An area of fertile land in the Middle East
reaching from Israel to the Persian Gulf and incorporating the Tigris
and Euphrates rivers in modern Iraq. The ancient Babylonian, Sumerian,
Assyrian, Phoenician, and Hebrew civilizations started here.
H
Hajj
Annual pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is performed in
the twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar and is an obligation once in a
lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.
Hayy
Quarter, District
Hijaz (Hejaz)
Northwestern Saudi Arabia, on the Gulf of Aqaba and Red Sea. Makkah and Madinah lies in this region. In 1916, Hijaz was proclaimed independent by Husayn ibn Ali, the sherif of Makkah, who with the aid of T. E. Lawrence destroyed Turkish authority.
Hijrah
Emigration of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) from Makkah
to Madinah. Islamic Calendar (or Hijri Calendar) begins from this date.
I
Ibn or Bin
Son of
J
Jebal (pl Jibal)
Mountain
K
Ka'bah
Ka'bah is the Sacred House. The first house built
on earth to worship Allah (the God Almighty) by the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son Ismail (Ishmael) by the command of God.
It is a black square building (14 meter in height) in the central courtyard of Masjid Al Haram. Muslims all over the world turn
towards Ka'bah during Prayer.
Kabsa
It is a rice dish made of long-grain Basmati with
a mixture of spices, vegetables
and meat. It is considered as a national dish of Saudi Arabia.
L
Levant
former name for the region in the eastern Mediterranean comprising modern-day Lebanon, Israel,
and parts of Syria and Turkey.
M
Mandi
A long-grain Basmati rice dish made of meat (especially lamb or chicken) with a mixture of spices.
Though a traditional Yemeni dish, it is widely consumed in Saudi Arabia.
Masjid
Mosque
Mesopotamia
ancient region located between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers in modern Iraq and Syria.
N
Najd (Nejd)
Central Saudi Arabia. A vast plateau. Najd means
highland or plateau. Riyadh, the capital city, lies in the region of
Najd
nomad (nomadic, adj)
Literally means wanderer.
Somebody who belongs to a group of people who move from place to place
seasonally in search of pasture for their herds or food and water. A
gypsy.
Q
Qasr
Palace
Qiblah
Place Muslims turn towards when they pray. Qiblah
of the Muslims is Ka'bah in Makkah
R
Rowdah (pl Riyadh)
Garden
S
Sha'ib
Wide Valley
T
Tihamah
Refers to the coastal plains along the Red Sea,
which extend from Yanbu in the north to Najran in the south. It is so
called because of its severe heat and lack of wind, from the word
At-Taham which refers to extreme heat and lack of wind
W
Wadi
In English speaking world, wadi is known by
different terms like, valleys, gorges, ravines and Gullies
Wahhabism
A term used widely in the literature of Western
scholarship to refer to Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab's religious
reform movement that was supported by the Al Saud family.
Wahhabiyya
The name given by the opponents to the movement
of Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab
Y
Yathrib
Name of the city of Madinah in pre-Islamic times
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