Southern Saudi turns white with snow

Published Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Mountains and villages in southern Saudi Arabia donned a white blanket to look like those in Switzerland or other European countries hit by a snow spell.

Snow and rain lashed the southern provinces of Najran and Asir close to the border with Yemen for several hours on Tuesday, turning many towns, villages and mountains into white areas, in sharp contrast with the eastern Empty Quarter desert, a hot, yellow sandy expanse dubbed the most barren spot in the world.

At a first glance, viewers of pictures published in Saudi newspapers on Wednesday could mistake the southern region for Switzerland or another Western country hit by a cold spell. The pictures are in sharp contrast with the general impression that Saudi Arabia is a mere oil-rich desert nation.