Current Time in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia

Ta'if is a major city located in the Mecca Region of Saudi Arabia, situated in the Hejaz Mountains at an elevation of approximately 1,800 meters above sea level, about 75 kilometers southeast of the holy city of Mecca. With a population of approximately 1.1 million, Ta'if is one of Saudi Arabia's most important cities and is often called the "City of Roses" due to its internationally renowned rose-growing industry and pleasant mountain climate.

Ta'if has been an inhabited settlement since ancient times and was an important waypoint on ancient Arabian trade routes. The city has deep connections to Islamic history — the Prophet Muhammad is recorded to have visited Ta'if in 619 CE in a difficult and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to gain support for the early Muslim community, an event recorded in Islamic tradition as one of the most challenging of his life. The city and surrounding Al-Hawiya Governorate were later important during the early Islamic caliphates as a summer residence for rulers seeking relief from the desert heat.

Ta'if's elevated location in the mountains gives it a significantly cooler and more temperate climate than the lowland cities of Saudi Arabia, including nearby Mecca and Jeddah. This climate has historically made it a favored summer retreat for the Saudi royal family, dignitaries, and wealthy residents of Jeddah and Mecca seeking relief from the intense summer heat. The Saudi government has historically relocated some of its administrative functions to Ta'if during the summer months.

The city is famous throughout the Arab world for its roses. The Taif rose (Rosa damascena taifensis) is the basis of a significant attar (rose oil) and rose water production industry. Every spring, during the rose harvest season in February and March, the hillsides around Ta'if bloom spectacularly, and the distillation of rose petals into fragrant oil is a centuries-old craft that continues today in traditional copper stills. Rose water and rose oil from Ta'if are prized as luxury products and used in perfumes, foods, and cosmetics across the Arab world and beyond.

Ta'if is also an important agricultural area within Saudi Arabia, producing grapes, pomegranates, peaches, honey, and other products that benefit from the mountain altitude. The Ta'if honey, particularly the Sidr honey, is considered among the finest in the world and commands high prices in Arab markets.

Ta'if Regional Airport connects the city to Riyadh, Jeddah, and other Saudi destinations. The city's mountain setting, rose gardens, historical significance, and traditional agricultural character make Ta'if one of the most distinctive and charming cities in the Arabian Peninsula.