Abha International Airport — Abha, Saudi Arabia

Abha sits high in the Asir Mountains of southwestern Saudi Arabia, offering a cooler climate than almost anywhere else in the kingdom and making it a popular domestic retreat for Saudis escaping the intense summer heat of the lowlands and coastal cities. The airport serving this mountain city climbs to a lofty 6,858 feet, among the higher elevations of any major airport on the Arabian Peninsula, its single runway built for the terrain and thinner air that come with high-altitude approaches. Asir Region's misty, terraced mountain landscapes stand in sharp visual contrast to the desert scenery most visitors associate with Saudi Arabia, drawing increasing domestic tourism as the kingdom has opened up its leisure travel sector in recent years. Traditional Asiri architecture, featuring distinctive stone towers and colorfully painted homes, adds to the region's appeal as a cultural as well as scenic destination. Summer months bring the airport's heaviest domestic traffic, as families from Riyadh, Jeddah, and the Gulf coast seek relief from lowland heat in Abha's relatively mild highland air. The airport's role has grown alongside Saudi Arabia's broader push to develop domestic tourism destinations beyond its religious and business travel hubs.