Al-ˁUrḍiyyāt Governorate in the Makkah Region is distinguished by its abundance of date palm groves compared to neighboring governorates located along the mountainous Tihāmah belt to the north and south. Indeed, its palm trees appear as an expatraite amid vast areas where date palms are largely absent. The prevalence of date palms in the governorate can be attributed to the inherited agricultural expertise of its inhabitants in cultivating and utilizing them, a tradition that may date back to pre-Islamic times.

Date palm cultivation in Al-ˁUrḍiyyāt is concentrated in two main administrative centers: Al-Wayd Center in Wādī Yabah and Qanūnā Center in Wādī Qanūnā, both of which are among the most renowned valleys of Tihāmah south of Makkah. Most residents and palm grove owners in these centers belong to the ʾAzdī tribe of Balqarn, which has inhabited the area since ancient times.

The date palms of Al-Wayd rely for irrigation on the seasonal floods of Wādī Yabah and on the perennial water channels (ghūyūl sing.:ghayl) that remain after the floods, providing water throughout the year. In Qanūnā, date palms depend not only on floods and rainfall but also on abundant springs that feed a network of aflāj sing.: Falag (traditional irrigation channels). Twenty-two Falag are located in the territory of Banū Buḥayr Balqarn alone.

Historically, date palms constituted a cornerstone of the local economy and livelihood in al-ˁUrḍiyyāt. Residents relied on their production of fresh dates and dried dates for sustenance, storage, and trade, while surplus produce was marketed throughout neighboring regions. Numerous social customs were associated with date palm cultivation, and various traditional crafts and industries developed from palm products such as fronds, leaflets, fibers, and trunks, providing livelihoods for generations of local inhabitants.

Today, however, the date palms of al-ˁUrḍiyyāt face increasing challenges due to neglect and declining maintenance. Many owners have shifted to government employment or migrated to urban centers, abandoning their groves and reducing efforts related to planting, cultivation, and the removal of weeds, climbing plants, and parasitic trees. Consequently, many palm groves have deteriorated, and some are now effectively abandoned.

Keywords: Wādī Yabah, Wādī Qanūnā, Al-Wayd Center, Qanūnā Center, Aflāj, Balqarn Tribe, Banū Buhayr.