Factors of Sustainable Economic Development in the Asir region: Abha Urban City as a Model

Abstract

     This study is concerned with sustainable economic development in the Asir region: the urban city of Abha as a model. This is affected by a set of natural geographic factors, including geological configuration, soil, climate, and topography, as well as the presence of some natural factors that had a negative impact such as the shortage of water resources and also affected some human factors such as the infrastructure network (methods and Electricity network, water network and sewage network). In general, they are good networks, although there are differences between the three cities of Abha and Khamis Mushait, and Ahad Rafidah. Besides, the human factor and the level of education have a major role in sustainable economic development in the region, and where the components of sustainable economic development greatly has affected the economic activity in the region where the tourist activity has prevailed in the city of Abha whereas the commercial activity has prevailed in the two cities of Khamis Mushait and Ahd Rafidah. There are many elements that would maximize the role of sustainable economic development such as the diversity of tourism resources and the presence of many industrial establishments as well as the aptness of climatic and topographical conditions for agricultural development in particular.