Al-Alkhalaf: The urban history of a traditional settlement in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

This work examines the history of a traditional Saudi Arabian settlement through three developmental stages: the traditional, the transitional and the contemporary. Along with a review of early established institutions and their influence on the built environment, emphasis is placed on the evolution of a progressively distinctive Al-Alkhalaf planning system in the wider context of societal changes and its relationship to the local government in the absence of a central one. The study examines the effects of a shift to the planning policies of a centralised national government and the changes in the economic picture in Saudi society, both of which have had a dramatic influence on the community. It concludes that while contemporary changes are beneficial in many ways, it is not altogether wise to abandon the indigenous experience which made Al-Alkhalaf a distinctive and highly-regarded community in the Asir Region.