The village of Al-Talha, or what was formerly called “Talha Al-Malik,” located near the Dhahran Al-Janoub Governorate and in the heart of historical geography, is inhabited by the Al Mansour tribe of Yam, a Hamdani tribe with deep roots and profound authenticity and belonging.

The village of Al-Talha, as it was known in ancient times, was described by Al-Hamdani in his book "Description of the Arabian Peninsula" and by Ibn Khurdadhbih in his book "Routes and Kingdoms" as "Talha of the King." It witnessed a political and geographical presence in ancient times until the era of the blessed Saudi state, and it was included in what included cities, villages, and settlements in terms of development and prosperity.

The palaces of the ancient village of Al-Talha still stand proudly, bearing witness to the richness of the past and the fragrance of history written by the hands of the Al Mansour tribe. These palaces, with their ancient stones and steadfast walls, tell tales of glory and authentic heritage that have not been worn away by time.

With the rare tourist attractions that Al-Talha possesses, starting from its unique location and pleasant atmosphere throughout the year, to its distinctive heritage architectural character, all these assets could transform it into a heritage site and tourist haven that not only serves the people of the region, but also enhances the presence of local heritage on the national tourism map and honors the history of our ancestors who built these palaces with bare hands and an iron will.

Despite this rich heritage, Al-Talha is largely absent from the map of attention. The only tourist attraction that showcases its true character is the Al-Talha Heritage Palace, established by a young man from the tribe through his own efforts and with minimal support from relevant authorities. This young man, who loved his village's heritage so much that he made it his mission, continues to pay the price for this passion amidst the silence and lack of vision and support from the Dhahran Al-Janoub Municipality and the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage.

This neglect also caused the village to lose its most important heritage landmark, its old mosque. The unique landmark, which was built more than five centuries ago, was a witness to the fragrance of history, the depth of roots, and the extension of memory, but unfortunately, it disappeared, and Al-Talha thus lost its most important spiritual and historical symbols.

Demolishing it is not just removing stones, but obliterating an irreplaceable part of the identity and spirit of the place, as it represented the local architectural heritage and religious and social legacy.

Today, Al-Talha, which still retains some of its authentic heritage, appeals with the eye of history and the mind of the present and cries out: Where are you, those who are in charge of drawing the map of heritage development?

Doesn't Al-Talha have the right to be included among the heritage villages?

Isn't it the duty of the concerned authorities to pay attention to their hidden treasure before memory swallows it up and oblivion folds it away?

Isn’t it fair that it receives the same attention as the archaeological and heritage villages in the region, the closest of which to Al-Talha village is Al-Souq village in Dhahran Al-Janoub Governorate, or what is called (Al-Hawza)?

Wednesday Market: Safe Trade in Times of Fear

Wednesday Market, or as it was known, "Souq al-Rubu'," was more than just a market where livestock, flour, cardamom, and dates were sold. It was a grand tale from the South, a testament to a time of goodness, tribal customs, and the era of "wajih," whose word was law and whose promises were respected without seal or signature. The market was a place for buying and selling, and simultaneously a platform for forgiveness, a forum for justice, a sanctuary, and a pact of honor governed by customs as firm as mountains. "Whoever enters it is safe," even if he killed an entire tribe; he would remain under the protection of the Al Mansour Yam tribe for twelve months, unharmed.

This is not just a story, but a document of honor in the conscience of the youngest child in the tribe.

The Wednesday market in the village of Al-Talha was a safe house, and “in the presence of the tribe” meant that you had entered into an unbreakable covenant.

The twelve months served as an opportunity for reconciliation, for arbitration, for wisdom to prevail instead of blind revenge. The market thus functioned as an instrument of social control and tribal peace, not merely a marketplace.

This information, this document, or this tribal acquisition... all confirm that the Talha community was not random, but was based on strict moral laws that gave security even to the enemy if he adhered to the sanctity of the place.

In short, in this market, the killer was protected and tried with an eye of justice, not with an eye of anger. “In the face of the Al Mansour Yam tribe,” twelve months he was not touched until custom had its say and justice had taken its course.

Today, since its unification by its founder, King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman – may God have mercy on him – the Saudi state has guaranteed security for all who reside on this land, the need for a market to provide security is no longer there. However, the market still deserves to be revived – not merely as a marketplace, but as a living memory and a bridge between tradition and the present. Its revival is not simply an economic boost, but a revival of a rich cultural and social heritage, one filled with rituals and bonds that cannot be bought or sold.

Yes, we want the market... we want it in all its details; with the scent of cardamom, the shouts of the vendors, and the footsteps of our ancestors on the acacia soil.

This market is not a thing of the past that has ended, but a present waiting for someone to awaken it.

The memory of "Al-Talha" is being demolished... and the alternative is a fish tank!

It never crossed my mind when I returned to my village of Al-Talha that I would find one of its landmarks had been erased from existence.

The entrance roundabout, in the middle of which stood a model of an ancient mud palace, a symbol of the region’s rich mountain heritage, suddenly disappeared… to be replaced by a fish tank!

This is a strange change that has no connection to the mountainous environment of Talha, and does not reflect the slightest understanding of the nature of the place or its history. Has the symbolism of the land run dry that we should draw inspiration from the sea to place in the heart of the mountains?

Or is the new plan merely an effort made without study or consultation with the townspeople?

This change, which clashes with reality, is an erasure of the place's identity, or an alteration incompatible with the mountainous nature and the preservation of visual and intangible heritage, especially in the southern villages that still resonate with the memory of the place. In an era where symbols have become a means of cultural communication, not only the basin itself but the very idea must be reconsidered.

Changing the entrance roundabout of Al-Talha from a heritage symbol like a mud palace that tells the story of the ancestors to a fish tank is a blatant example of the lack of cultural compass among some of those in charge of municipal decisions. Imagine a mountain village that embraces the clouds, and at its entrance a borrowed tank is placed that does not resemble it or its people, as if it were a painting with a strange frame attached to it!

"Wadi Al-Afyad" is dying due to the silence of the municipality and the tampering of man!

Wadi Al-Afyad, one of the landmarks or features of Al-Talha village and its water outlet, is a memory of nature and a breath of fresh air for the locals and visitors, and a place that future generations deserve as much as previous generations deserved it.

To leave it in this state and neglect it from all sides is a shortcoming that is not befitting of the place or its people.

The encroachments and tampering with it and its picturesque nature are sad. The matter has even reached the point where picnickers leave their food and drink waste behind them because they did not find places for waste, until the valley became a breeding ground for flies and mosquitoes. It has also become a site and place for “beekeepers” who place their beehives for months with their workers without respecting the sanctity of the place, and that there are families picnicking in it.

As for the Wadi Al-Afyad Dam, this beautiful masterpiece located at the head of the valley, it was built in the latest style, but it was left to neglect.

The dam is surrounded by mountains that form a captivating natural landscape. Safe pedestrian walkways could have been opened on its edges, traditional stone shelters and seating areas could have been built, barbecue areas could have been designated, a site for family campsites could have been set up, a platform for observation and photography could have been created, and perhaps a seasonal festival could have been held there to bring people together and celebrate the place and its people.

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The municipality of Dhahran Al Janoub is responsible, and its role is to maintain the place, plan for its development, put up awareness signs, provide containers, and appoint environmental monitors who inspect the sites and facilities continuously.