'Afif
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Afif عفيف |
|
|---|---|
 Afif
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| Coordinates: 23°54′36″N 42°55′13″E / 23.91000°N 42.92028°ECoordinates: 23°54′36″N 42°55′13″E / 23.91000°N 42.92028°E | |
| Country |
 Saudi Arabia
|
| Province | Najd |
| Population (2004) | |
| • Total | 39,581 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
| • Summer (DST) | EAT (UTC+3) |
Afif (Arabic: عفيف ʿAfīf) is a city in central Saudi Arabia, in the Najd region. It is situated approximately halfway between Riyadh and Mecca. The modern town was established in the 1910s as a hijra, or "settlement", for the nomadic tribes of the area, particularly the tribe of 'Utaybah (see Ikhwan). It has since then grown into a small city of 39,581 as of the 2004 census, not counting the surrounding towns and villages, which together with 'Afif form the 'Afif Governorate.
The city once served as a gateway between the central and western regions of Saudi Arabia. The city is also known to be the first landing site of the first airplane owned by King Abdulaziz the first king of Saudi Arabia.
The town taken the name Afif from an old well in the area called Afif "بئر عفيف - البير العود". People used to pass by this well in their way to Mekkah, for doing Hajj or Omrah, in order to get water for the rest of the way. Then during the month of Hajj, people started to come around this Well to sell their goods for the passengers, therefore, the majority of these traders started to live around the well to deal with passengers. Thereafter, the people from little villages around this Well started to recognise how profitable to live around this Well as houses started to be built around this Well. Hence, the city started to grow up.
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