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EXPLORE KSA
BAIT AL KATIB Once Home to King Faisal Of a gem hiding in Taif. By Mohammed Mirza
After seeing a photo of Bait Al Katib, my cousin asked, “this is Shobra Palace, right?” It was pretty surprising to me considering that he’s spent much of his life in Taif and has not only never seen it but doesn’t even know about it. To add to that, Bait Al Katib sits right in the heart of the city, in fact quite close to his own residence. The royal mansion sits so inconspicuously that one may just pass by it without even noticing it. A large tree obscures the view to the grandeur that is behind it. Perhaps the place may soar 82 DESTINATION RIYADH DECEMBER 2016
in popularity once its doors are thrown open to tourists, especially amongst those who want more from Taif apart from the regular amusement parks and farm excursions.
Famous for being home to King Faisal, Bait Al Katib is one of the most remarkable historic structures in the city, second only to the Shobra Palace in terms of historic architecture.