LOCATED at roughly equidistance from Baghdad, Damascus and Jerusalem, the northern Saudi city of Al-Jouf is deeply rooted in history. Archaeologists believe it is one of the first places humans settled in the Arabian Peninsula.
History books have kept many other names for this town, including: Jouf Al-Sarhan, Jouf Al-Omar, Al-Jouba and Wadi Al-Naffakh. Al-Jouf was also known as Dawmat Al-Jandal, but in recent history that name was assigned to another town and Al-Jouf became both the official name of the city as well as the province in which it lies. (Sakaka, located about 35km north and east of Al-Jouf town is the capital of Al-Jouf province.)
Al-Jouf’s location gives it a distinct culture. It was a confluence for various cultures and successive civilizations. This had given it a unique character, rich in the arts, folklores and dialects.
The area is rich in the geographic and geological diversity. Its lands are some of the most fertile in the Kingdom. Its vast prairies provide rich grazing for animals. In the rainy season, truffles can be harvested. Its abundant underground water had attracted migrants since ancient times.
The existing structures here belie the possibility that indeed this may be one of the first sites of sedentary habitation, particularly for its location far from the coasts.
The area knew numerous dynasties, including the Adomato Kingdom that ruled the area in the eighth century B.C. The Assyrians came later, and, finally, Islam gave rise to massive consolidation of the peoples of the region.
During the rise of Islam, Al-Jouf became famous in history due to a well-known arbitration incident between Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib and Muawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, which took place here.
The city also takes pride in the fact that one of its residents, Bishr ibn Abdul Malik, brother of Al-Ikaidir, king of Dawmat Al-Jandal, taught the residents of Makkah how to read and write.
Al-Jouf was the main inlet to the northern parts of the Arabian Peninsula through which waves of immigrants entered into this part of the world. It, of course, became part of Saudi Arabia under King Abdul Aziz and it now enjoys one of the most unique, post-Islamic historical positions in Saudi Arabia outside of the two holy cities.
As an extension of its strategic location among neighboring Kingdoms in the past, the present location has made Al-Jouf the pivot of communications among the various regions of the country. The nearby provincial capital of Sakaka got its name because it was a major confluence point of various routes. The presence of oases made the entire area a favorite stop for caravans heading in all directions. (The Spice and Silk Roads stopped here, for example, on their ways back and forth.)
The area is also the point through which pilgrims from Asia and Europe enter the Kingdom by land.
Al-Jouf province as a whole is about 580 feet above sea level and occupies and area of 76,000km and today has a population of 400,000 persons, including 60,000 expatriates.
The abundance of potable water and the fertile land has attracted migrants to Al-Jouf since early times. The area is one of the most important grazing grounds in the Kingdom. In addition to grazing, its inhabitants are also working in agriculture wherein they grow palm trees, fruits and vegetables.
The important cities and towns of Al-Jouf province include Sakaka, the largest city in the province with a population of more than 200,000. The capital also hosts the historic Zaabal castle. The second-largest city is Al-Qurayat, which borders Jordan and has a population of 150,000 persons. Dawmat Al-Jandal, the third-largest city, has a population of 80,000 people. It contains the historic Marid castle and the minaret of Caliph Omar ibn w Mosque.
