About Najran University

Najran University is located in the city of Najran, one of the oldest cities with a rich history of events throughout the ages. Historians and geographers commend this area, rich in agricultural wealth, due to its strategic location, fertile land, and abundant groundwater, giving it a special importance among the regions of the Arabian Peninsula. The Najran region combines several topographic advantages; it is an agricultural, mountainous, and desert area all in one. Najran is one of the ancient places dating back to pre-historic eras, as evidenced by the remnants of those eras until today.

Reason for the name of the Najran region

The name Naran appears in many historical narratives and accounts of Arab and foreign travelers without a direct explanation of this naming. Some accounts state that “Naran” is the platform upon which a sail turns, and it is said: “And the sail was dismissed to Naran until the sail left no hinge.” Another narrative adds that it was named after the first person to settle and inhabit it, a man named Naran bin Zidan bin Saba bin Ya’rub bin Qahthan. This person arrived in the area after a vision that terrified him, so he traveled until he reached a valley where he settled, and the area was named after his name. As it appears in poetry: “I poured water into Naran until the hinge left no trace.”

Bedouin and Urban Life in Najran

The Bedouin in Najran had a unique way of life, similar to that of Bedouin communities throughout the Arabian Peninsula; they moved following pastures and areas where rainwater gathered along with their herds of camels, goats, and sheep, with goats being the primary source of livelihood due to their wool, meat, and milk. The urban population in Najran primarily engaged in agriculture, dedicating most of their time to it, using primitive furrows and traditional irrigation methods such as camels and oxen-drawn water troughs.

Location

تقع منطقة نجران في الجزء الجنوبي الغربي من المملكة العربية السعودية، ويحدّها من الشمال والجنوب جبال شاهقة، بينما تمتد شرقًا لتغور في رمال الربع الخالي. ويتوسطها وادي نجران، الذي يخترق المنطقة من الغرب إلى الشرق ليصب في رمال الربع الخالي، فيما يُعرف برملة يام.

Climate

The climate of the Najran region exhibits characteristics of a somewhat continental climate, with temperatures ranging from 14.6 to 30.9 degrees Celsius, while annual rainfall averages approximately 83 mm.