About Najran University

Najran University is situated in Najran City, one of the oldest cities with a history filled with major events. Historians and geographers laud this region full of agricultural richness for its strategic location, the fertility of its land, and the abundance of its groundwater, which gave it a special significance among the Arabian Peninsula regions. One might say that Najran combines several topographic features, being an agricultural, mountainous, and desert area simultaneously. Najran is also considered one of the most ancient sites dating back to pre-Christian eras, evidenced by the historical remains that still exist to this day.

The Origin of Najran's Name

The name "Najran" appears in many historical narratives and in numerous books by Arab and foreign travelers without a clear explanation, leaving this to older accounts. Some stories mention that the word "Najran" refers to a piece of wood around which a door bolt turns, adding: "I closed the door with the 'najran' until the door had no creak." Another story attributes the name to the first person who settled and built the area, a man called Najran Bin Zaidan Bin Saba Bin Yarub Bin Qahtan. According to the tale, this man arrived in Najran after seeing a vision that terrified him. He wandered until he reached a valley, settled there, and the place was named after him.

Bedouin and Urban Life in Najran

The Bedouins in Najran had a unique lifestyle, much like other desert inhabitants across the Arabian Peninsula. They would follow pastures and rainwater collection spots with their herds of deer, sheep, and especially goats, which were considered their main source of livelihood. The Bedouins sold wool, consumed meat, and drank milk, which brought them joy and sustenance. On the other hand, the urban residents of Najran primarily engaged in agriculture, dedicating all their time to plowing the land using primitive plows drawn by cattle and irrigating their crops with traditional methods, such as using camels or cows to lift water through the "Sawani" method.

Geographical Location

Najran is located in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia, specifically on the eastern edges of the Arabian Shield, which stretches across a vast area to the far south of the Arabian Peninsula. It lies at approximately longitude 44°1/3 and latitude 17°1/2. Najran covers an area of about 36,500 square kilometers, with a significant portion being desert, represented by the Sharurah Governorate, which administratively belongs to the Najran region. The altitude in Najran ranges between 900 and 1800 meters above sea level. The area is surrounded by towering mountains to the north and south, which gradually diminish eastward until they merge into the sands of the Empty Quarter. Najran sits on a flat plain, traversed by the Najran Valley, which flows from west to east, emptying into the sands of the Empty Quarter in what is known as Ramlat Yam.

Climate

The climate of Najran is somewhat continental, with average temperatures ranging between 14.6°C and 30.9°C. Rainfall is very scarce, with an annual average of just 83 mm.