Taif

Taif Aṭ-Ṭāʾif (ٱلطَّائِف)
City
Taif, as seen from Al Hada
Nickname(s):  Madīnat al-Wurūd (مَدِيْنَة ٱلْوُرُوْد) Summer capital of the Kingdom
Taif Location in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Show map of Saudi Arabia Taif Taif (Middle East) Show map of Middle East Taif Taif (West and Central Asia) Show map of West and Central Asia
Coordinates: 21°16′30.34″N 40°24′22.16″E / 21.2750944°N 40.4061556°E / 21.2750944; 40.4061556
Country	Saudi Arabia
Province	Makkah
Governorate	Taif
Government
• Mayor	HRH Nahar Alsaud
Area
• City	321 km2 (124 sq mi)
Elevation	1,879 m (6,165 ft)
Population  (2022 census)[1]
• City	563,282
• Rank	6
• Density	2,144/km2 (5,554/sq mi)
• Metro	913,374 (Taif Governorate)
Demonym	Taifian
Time zone	UTC+3 (GMT + 3)
Postal Code	26XXX
Area code	+966 12
Website	http://www.taifcity.gov.sa

Taif (Arabic: اَلطَّائِفُ‎, romanized: Aṭ-Ṭāʾif, lit. 'The circulated or encircled', Hejazi Arabic pronunciation: [atˤˈ tˤaː(j)ɪf]) is a city and governorate in the Province of Makkah in Saudi Arabia. Located at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,165 ft) in the slopes of the Hijaz Mountains, which themselves are part of the Sarat Mountains,^[2] the city has a population of 563,282 people in 2022, making it one of the most populous cities in the kingdom.^[3]

There is a belief that Taif is indirectly referred to in Quran 43:31.^[4] The city was visited by the Islamic prophet Muhammad, sometime in the early 7th century, and was inhabited by the tribe of Banu Thaqif. It is still inhabited to this day by their descendants. As a part of the Hejaz, the city has seen many transfers-of-power throughout its history, with the last being during the Saudi conquest of Hejaz in 1925.

The city has been called the unofficial summer capital of Saudi Arabia^[5][6] and has also been called the best summer destination in Saudi Arabia^[7] as it enjoys a moderate weather during summer, unlike most of the Arabian Peninsula. The city owes its popularity among tourists to its many mountain resorts and moderate climate, even during the harsh summers of Arabia. The city is connected to the nearby resort town of Al-Hada via the iconic Highway 15 (Taif – Al-Hada Road). It stands out from the rest of the Hijazi region as it is a city that plays an active role in the agricultural output of Saudi Arabia and is the center of an agricultural area known for its cultivation of grapes, pomegranate, figs, roses and honey.^[8] Taif is also very active in the manufacturing of traditional attar, and is known locally as "City of the Roses" (Arabic: مَدِيْنَة ٱلْوُرُوْد, romanized: Madīnat al-Wurūd). Taif also hosts the historic Souq 'Okaz.

The Taif governorate is divided into 15 smaller municipalities, with Ta'if as the capital.^[9] The administration of the city itself is carried out by five municipalities, named North Taif, West Taif, East Taif, South Taif and New Taif. Taif is served by the Taif Regional Airport, with a new international airport planned to open sometime in 2020.^[10][11]