Wadi Hanifa Wetlands
Saudiarabia
At a glance
Dir'iyah is one of several towns positioned within Wadi Hanifa, a long thin valley whose once neglected environment has been rehabilitated and restored over the years, bringing it back to sustainable life. In 2010, the Wadi Hanifa Wetlands rehabilitation program won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Dams in the valley were reconstructed, its water treated and cleaned up, its terrain landscaped and archaeological sites restored. Today, the valley is a park and picnic site, a scenic drive, and a site where people and nature mingle.
Wadi Hanifa (wadi meaning valley) runs along a plateau in the Nejd region of central Saudi Arabia for about 120 kms, before it trickles off at the edge of the Rub' Al Khali (Empty Quarter). It is considered the most important geographical feature in the area.
Photo credit: Blue Abaya Photography
