An old village in the city centre
Al-Muftaha sits in the heart of Abha. The historic village is about 260 years old: closely packed houses linked by inner and outer lanes, built in the traditional way with thick walls and small openings.
Since the early 1990s it has served as a cultural centre for traditional and visual arts, photography and handicrafts. The Ministry of Culture now oversees and runs it, working with the Emirate of Asir Province, the Asir Region Development Authority and the Public Investment Fund.
Murals and a great stage
Here the Asiri style of building meets modern artistic touches. Artists from the region have filled the village corridors with murals, which have become one of its main attractions.
At the heart of the King Fahd Cultural Center stands a theatre of 3,500 seats. In 2019 the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, named it after the singer Talal Maddah, who gave his final concert there in 2000. In 2021 the Saudi Tourism Authority chose Al-Muftaha as one of eleven destinations in its Saudi Summer programme.