| Official Name: | Al Qunfudhah |
| Nickname: | The Ghadah of the South |
| Native Name: | القنفذة |
| Native Name Lang: | ar |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Saudi Arabia |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Saudi Arabia |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Makkah (Mecca) |
| Leader Title1: | City Governor |
| Leader Name1: | Fadha Al Bogami[1] |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Established Title2: | Joined Saudi Arabia |
| Established Date2: | 1925 |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population As Of: | 2022 census |
| Population Total: | 42,447 (Al Qunfudhah town) |
| Population Metro: | 205,188 (Al Qunfudhah governate) |
| Timezone: | EAT |
| Utc Offset: | +3 |
| Timezone Dst: | EAT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +3 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | (5 digits) |
| Area Code: | +966-17 |
| Coordinates: | 19.1264°N 41.0789°W |
Al Qunfudhah, also known as Kunfuda, is a Saudi city in the Tihamah region on the coast of the Red Sea. Its population is the fourth largest in Makkah Province,[2] the area of the governate is estimated at 5,195 km²,[3] which occupies about 3.65% of the area of the region and is ranked ninth among the governorates of the region in terms of area. It is also one of the large sea ports of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the Red Sea. Al Qunfudhah was founded in 1311 A.C-709 Hijri according to the ancient sources.
Al Qunfudah's origins date back to 709 at the beginning of the eighth century Hijri. Since ancient times, it received ocean-going trade caravans that traveled from Yemen to Syria and vice versa. The name Al Qunfudah did not appear in historical writings until with the beginning of the ninth century AH after the collapse of the Sultanate of Hali bin Yaaacob of Banu Kinanah tribe in Hali south of Al Qunfudhah.
The thirteenth century was the starting point for the campaigns of Muhammad Ali Pasha, as it was an arena for fighting between the Ottomans and Italians. The wrecks of Ottoman ships sunk by the Italians are found in the waters of the Red Sea, south of Qunfudah.
It is also the base for the campaigns of the Ottomans and their allies supervising Asir, which has been previously called (Bandar) by the Ottomans, which means (market) in the Turkish language. King Ibn Saud ordered the Prince of Al Qunfudhah Sharif Abdullah ibn Hamza to leave it in April 1344 AH and appointed Mohammed ibn Agag prince on Qunfudah and Turki bin Mohammed Ibn Madi as the financial agent. As that port Qunfudah was an important port on the Red Sea coast where it contributed to receive large ships loaded from Yemen and the Levant. This port received Greek and Roman ocean-going ships to get the gold that exists in this region. It also received trade caravans and pilgrims to Mecca even after the takeover of the Saudi forces. The harbor was also receiving pilgrims from south of the Arabian Peninsula and pilgrims from South East Asia, particularly India pilgrims.
It is located on the south-western border of the Makkah province, south of Al Lith, bordered by the Al Aradhiyah city. The province of Asir is southeast to the city and passes by the international coastal road of Jeddah - Jizan. It is located 290 km to the south from the holy city of Mecca, and 340 km away from Jeddah.
The largest settlements in Al Qunfudhah governate (with 2022 population) are:[4]
Al Qunfudhah has a long summer from March until end October, then a short fall 4 weeks after that a winter or spring that what locals of Al Qunfudhah prefer to call it from November until February.[5] Its average annual temperature is the highest of Saudi Arabia.
The population of Al Qunfudhah is 205,188 people divided between urban and coastal villages and abandonment, representing about 2.7% of the population of the province, which comes in fourth place of the region after the province of Ta'if in terms of population from the year 2022 according to the 2022 census.[6]
Al Qunfudhah is administratively divided into 10 administrative centers as follows:
The city of Al Qunfudhah consists of eight neighborhoods or districts and each neighborhood has a responsible elder who facilitates the affairs of the residents in front of the government agencies and he is appointed by the governor.
On 5 December 2018 Prince Khalid Al Faisal Laid the foundation stone for establishing Al Qunfudhah airport to serve the people of three regions in Saudi Arabia. the location for the airport is 25 km north side of Al Qunfudhah in Al Modhailf county. The Area of the airport is 25,000,000 m2 which contains 3 terminals (Royal, travel and Cargo), one runway, Airport apron to accommodate five aircraft, Road network, Watch tower, Add an integrated infrastructure as well as parking and service facilities, Which will provide service to about 7 governorates and 50 administrative centers, follow three coastal and mountainous areas are Makkah, Al-Baha and Asir. These include Qanfudah, which has 10 centers, the Governorate of Aleirdhiat and its six centers, Al-Layth governorate with eight centers, Al-Baha, with five centers, and most of the centers of the nine Mokhwah governorate, as well as the governorate of Gamad al-Zind, with five centers, as well as the center of Tharban and Jamaa Rabia. The airport will officially open in 2021.[14]
In 2019 an agreement to establish the airport was signed between the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) and Nesma and Partners Contracting Company.[15] The airport that will have the capacity to accommodate half a million passengers costs a total amount of SR840 million.[16]