Al-Dhahiriya City
Al-Dhahiriya is located in the far south of the West Bank, approximately 22 km south of Hebron city, and is considered the southern gateway of the West Bank. The city was established on the ruins of an ancient Canaanite town known as “Goshen.” Its ruler, Sultan Al-Zahir, made it a strategic location within his sultanate, and the city derived its name from him.
Al-Dhahiriya is surrounded by the lands of Beersheba and As-Samu, and by the villages of Al-Burj, Deir Al-Asal, Beit Al-Rush, and Dura. Its population is approximately 50,000 residents, rising to nearly 70,000 when including the surrounding villages, according to statistics from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
The urban center of Al-Dhahiriya covers 15,198 dunums according to the municipal structural plan, while the total surrounding land area reaches 120,854 dunums—representing more than 70% of its historical area of 167,000 dunums. Al-Dhahiriya is the third-largest city in Hebron Governorate after Hebron and Yatta, and it is the last major population center in the southern West Bank.
Vision of Al-Dhahiriya
“Al-Dhahiriya is a prosperous, modern, developed, and safe city with a distinctive and pioneering cultural character.”
Economy of Al-Dhahiriya
The city’s geographical location has made it a commercial hub serving more than 100,000 residents from the Negev area. It is also a central gathering point for workers employed in the city of Beersheba inside the Green Line, coming from the southern West Bank.
According to municipal records, more than 1,040 commercial licenses have been issued to professionals and institutions providing a wide range of goods and services, including a fully integrated market that meets citizens’ needs. The city also hosts one of the most important livestock markets in the Palestinian territories.
The labor force constitutes 68.6% of the total population. Of those employed, 52% work inside the Green Line, 17% in official government positions, 15% in the agricultural sector, 11% in trade, and 5% in industry.
History and Tourism
The Old Town of Al-Dhahiriya is an important historical heritage site, containing 972 buildings of architectural and historical value, representing about 2.5% of the total historical buildings in Palestine. Initiatives by donors and the municipality have contributed to restoring a number of historic buildings and squares and investing in them as tourism facilities and services.
One of the most prominent historical landmarks is a building known as “Al-Khawkhah,” a complex located in the Old Town. It is now a center bearing the name of Fawzi Pasha, a former Ottoman army commander who constructed a fortress distinguished by its arched architecture and striped decorative patterns. The area also features rock-cut wells and caves with harmoniously engineered designs.
In addition to the Old Town, numerous archaeological sites exist in the surrounding villages and communities, dating back to various historical periods. Notable sites include Kafr Jul, Al-Ras, Deir Al-Luz, Umm Seir, Al-Rahwa, Al-Jaabari, Aseela, Badghoush, Deir Sa’ida, Deir Al-Hawa, Attir, Umm Al-Damna, Tel Awad, and Umm Al-Nakhla.
Key Institutions
Al-Dhahiriya hosts a number of governmental and non-governmental institutions providing vital services to residents and surrounding areas, including: the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Southern Hebron Governorate; Al-Dhahiriya Sports Club; the Central Police Station; the Emergency and Ambulance Center; the Safe Maternity Center; and health clinics.
Other institutions include: the Directorate of Agricultural Extension; the Central Post Office; the Ministry of Interior Directorate; the Sharia Court; Southern Electricity Company; the College of Islamic Da’wah; a local radio network including Rotana Radio; women’s centers and associations; the Directorate of Labor Office; the Red Crescent Society; a children’s hospital; the Teachers’ Forum; agricultural cooperative societies; four bank branches (Bank of Palestine, Bank of Jerusalem, and the Palestinian Islamic Bank); and the Islamic Charitable Society.
