TAIF — More than 30 climbers from across the Kingdom gathered in Shafa near Taif recently to test and climb in the opening of the first sport climbing area in the Kingdom.

The opening on Friday, Nov. 30, followed a month-long climbing development project dubbed the Saudi Bolting Project, an initiative by the Saudi Climbing Federation aimed at developing the first rock climbing areas in the Kingdom.

Between Oct. 28 and Dec. 1, a team of four professional climbing developers, hired by the federation and led by longtime Middle East developer and Canadian climber Read Macadam, spent more than a month in the Kingdom developing climbing areas along the Sarawat Mountain Range on the west coast of Saudi Arabia. The team was completed by Italian climbers Alex Ruscior, Piergiorgio Lotito, and Carlo Giulberti.

The first area, Shafa near Taif, was chosen by the federation for the quality of the rock (granite) formations, which are comparable to the quality of rock in the Alps, and the steepness of the cliffs, which allowed for very hard climbing routes to be made. Known for its high elevation and cool climate, Shafa is a popular summer destination in the region. Forty climbing routes were bolted in Shafa.

The second area, Tanouma, is located 130 kilometers northwest of Abha, and is an important resort area featuring waterfalls, forests of dense juniper and pine trees, beautiful natural rock formations, and very cold winter temperatures. Forty-five climbing routes were developed in Tanouma.

The Saudi Climbing Federation was founded in February of 2018 under the General Sports Authority, with the aim of developing and promoting competitive climbing and the outdoors in the Kingdom.

The Saudi Bolting Project is a continuous initiative to develop climbing areas in the Kingdom. The initiative is aimed at creating natural sport venues for rock climbing, and increase local and international sports tourism to the areas developed. Both areas are open for the public. — SG