The city of Khamis Mushait is located north east of
Abha in the Asir region in the south west of the kingdom. It lies inland, in a mountainous area. Its position on the main caravan route from Yemen to the Hijaz ensured its importance as a center of trade from earliest times. The town takes its name from the Mushait clan which lives in this area. (Khamis means Thursday and refers to the day on which the weekly market is held.)
The location of Khamis Mushait close to the Yemeni border has, in recent years, given it a military significance, with the establishment of army and air-force bases. This military presence has expanded the population and increased prosperity.
The population was estimated to be 300,000 in 2003.
