Taif, Saudi Arabia

Ta'if is a city in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia at an elevation of 1,879 m (6,160 ft) on the slopes of the Sarawat Mountains (Al-Sarawat Mountains). It has a population of 521,273 (2004 census). Each summer the Saudi Government moves from the heat of Riyadh to Ta'if. The city is the centre of an agricultural area known for its grapes and honey.The inhabitants of Ta'if, are largely made up of the Hanbali and Maliki Sunnis Saudi Arabians. Shia Muslims of various denominations form the second largest community of the native inhabitants. The new settlers in this climatically pleasant town are mostly Wahhabi Muslims from the central and eastern parts of Saudi Arabia. There are also significant foreign populations, primarily from Asia and other Arab countries.