Zahran (tribe)

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Zahran (Arabic: زهران) a tribe known for its courageousness and generosity among the Arabs. Along with other Arabian tribes, it is regarded to be of the very few original inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula.

Al Baha, (known historically as the 'garden of Hijaz') is the absolute home land of two big tribes:Ghamid and Zahran. Large numbers however, currently live in western Saudi Arabia (mainly in Mecca and Jeddah) due to large migration from villages and small cities during the 1960's and 70's in search of a better life. The Kingdom saw mass migration from villages to urban areas in those years , mainly because of the large oil revenues the Kingdom was benefiting from which created infinite job oppurtunitites.

Although the vast majority of the Zahrani tribe are of Saudi nationals, according to the American Heritage Dictionary Zahrani's can be found in Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Infact, a large area in southern Lebanon is known as 'Deir Al-zahrani' - (Arabic: ديار الزهراني).

It is believed that the migration to "Greater Syria" traditional Arabic term Bilad al-Sham (Arabic: بلاد الشام , also transliterated bilad-ush-sham etc.) occured because of harsh weather conditions and very little food resources.