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Hail, Saudi Arabia

Barzan Palace remains

What remains of the great palace of the Al Rashid emirs in old Hail, in the Barzan area that is still the city’s historic heart and market district.

Favourite places

Local food

  • Kabsa

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    The national dish: long-grain rice cooked in a spiced broth with chicken or lamb, served on a large shared platter with nuts, raisins and a tomato-chilli sauce (daqoos).

  • Jareesh

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Cracked wheat slow-cooked with meat or chicken, onion and spices into a soft, porridge-like dish, finished with ghee and fried onions. A classic of central and northern Saudi kitchens.

  • Saudi coffee (gahwa) and dates

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom (sometimes saffron or cloves), poured in small cups from a dallah and always served with dates. Offering it is the first sign of welcome in any Saudi home, majlis or heritage site.Read more

Where to eat

  • Barzan market area

    Old centre of Hail, around Barzan Square

    The historic heart of Hail, with traditional shops for dates, coffee, spices and crafts, and simple restaurants serving kabsa, jareesh and grills.

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  • Main commercial streets

    Central and northern Hail

    Family restaurants, Saudi and Middle Eastern grills, bakeries and modern cafés along the main avenues. Most have family seating.

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Where to stay

  • Central Hail

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels and furnished apartments near the Barzan area, Al-Qishlah Palace and A’arif Fort — the most convenient base for sightseeing.

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  • Along the main ring and airport roads

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Newer hotels on the city’s main roads, with easier parking and quick access to the roads to Jubbah and the desert.

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Culture

Barzan is where Hail shops and meets: traditional stores sell dates, coffee, spices and crafts, and the square is a gathering place in the evening.

History

Barzan Palace was the seat of the Al Rashid emirs, who ruled Hail and much of northern Arabia in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a large complex of mud-brick buildings with towers and courtyards, described by travellers who visited the emirs' court.

After Hail joined the Saudi state, most of the palace was demolished over the 20th century. Only parts of it remain, but the name lives on in the Barzan area and its square and market, which are still the centre of old Hail.

Tour plans

Evening in old Hail

Half day

  1. Step 1: Barzan area

    Look for the remains of the palace and learn the story of the Al Rashid emirs.

  2. Step 2: Market walk

    Shop for dates, coffee and spices.

  3. Step 3: A’arif Fort at night

    See the fort lit up on its hill.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

October to March, in the late afternoon or evening when the market area is lively.

How to get there

  • From central Hail: in the old centre; take a taxi to the Barzan area.

Getting around

  • On foot: walk the Barzan square and the market streets around it.

Travel tips

  • Dress: modest clothing is expected in public — shoulders and knees covered for everyone; loose, light fabrics are the most comfortable. Women do not need to cover their hair as visitors, but a scarf is useful for religious sites.
  • Prayer times: many shops and some sites close briefly for each of the five daily prayers; plan around them.
  • Friday: the weekly holy day. Mornings are quiet and many places open only after the midday prayer.
  • Expectations: little of the palace survives — come for the history and the old market atmosphere.

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