Every Thursday, the traditional market in Al-Aridah Governorate, Jazan Region, draws visitors looking for more than a shopping trip: a window onto local life and its social, craft and farming traditions.

For more than 135 years, the market has brought together residents, farmers, artisans and shoppers from across Jazan. Farm produce, handicrafts, food and traditional clothing are laid out side by side, reflecting the governorate’s identity.

Strolling between the stalls, visitors can watch craftspeople show off handmade goods, utensils, baskets and traditional tools, while farmers sell seasonal produce and traders offer honey, Saudi coffee, spices, aromatic plants and other staples of the region’s kitchens and daily life.

The variety on offer enriches the visitor experience, showcases the governorate’s cultural and economic strengths, and ties rural tourism to local heritage and agricultural products.