Khamis
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Khamis

Khamis

Highland Asir city named for its Thursday market, where mountain traders gather with produce and honey.

Khamis Mushait is a large city in the Asir region of southwest Saudi Arabia, close to Abha and effectively part of the same urban area. It is best known for its Thursday market — one of the most lively traditional markets in the country, drawing traders and farmers from the surrounding mountains with produce, livestock, Asiri honey, silver jewellery, and traditional goods. The market gives the city its name: Khamis means Thursday in Arabic.

The city sits at around 2,000 metres elevation, which keeps temperatures pleasant even in summer — a welcome contrast to the Gulf cities and a reason why the Asir highlands draw domestic Saudi visitors as a summer retreat. The surrounding Asir National Park protects juniper forests and escarpment terrain unlike anything else in the country. Traditional Asiri stone architecture, decorated with geometric patterns by local women, is unique in the Arab world.

Guide

Getting There

Khamis Mushait is served by Abha Regional Airport, which handles domestic flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and other Saudi cities. The airport is about 25 km from Khamis city centre and 20 km from Abha. Several domestic carriers including Saudia and Flynas operate scheduled services.

By road, Khamis Mushait lies about 800 km southeast of Jeddah along the mountain highway — a long but scenic drive that is feasible in one day. The highway through the Asir passes through dramatic escarpment terrain. From Riyadh the distance is over 1,000 km, making it a three-day drive or a domestic flight for most travellers.

There is no rail connection to the Asir. Within the region, rental cars are the most practical way to get around; the distances between attractions and the escarpment roads require a vehicle.

Guide

Shopping

The Thursday market (Souq Al-Khamis) is the primary shopping destination — see the Things to Do section for details. For everyday goods, the city has modern shopping centres and hypermarkets typical of Saudi cities. The King Fahad Road area has the main commercial strip.

For traditional crafts, Asiri honey, silver jewellery, and regional textiles, the Thursday market is far better than any fixed shop. Old silver pieces and antique household objects occasionally surface at the market or in small antique dealers in the surrounding area.

Guide

Things to Do

Khamis Mushait sits at 2,000 metres in the Asir highlands, sharing an urban area with Abha, the provincial capital 25 km to the west. The combination of cool mountain air, traditional Asiri architecture, and the famous Thursday market makes this corner of southwest Saudi Arabia genuinely distinct from the Gulf cities.

Guide

When to Go

Khamis Mushait and the Asir highlands are at their most pleasant from October to April, when days are clear and cool at altitude. October and November bring crisp weather after the summer monsoon, with good visibility and green hillsides. December to February can be cold at night — temperatures occasionally drop below 5°C — but days are sunny and mild.

The summer months from June to September are unusual for Saudi Arabia: the Indian Ocean monsoon brings cloud, drizzle, and genuinely cool temperatures to the highlands. Average highs in July and August stay around 20–22°C, making the Asir a popular domestic summer destination for Saudis escaping the Gulf heat. Roads can flood and visibility drops in heavy cloud, but the landscape is lush and dramatically misty.

Avoid visiting during major Saudi public holidays if you are relying on tourism infrastructure — hotels fill and sites become crowded. Ramadan brings reduced hours for many services.