The Yam Tribe

Location: Wadi Najran, Southern Saudi Arabia

The great Wadi Najran flows eastward from the Asīr highlands, bringing life to a broad ribbon of fertile farmland before disappearing into the sands of the Empty Quarter. Along its course, tall, fortified farmsteads—built in layered mud—have stood for generations, a distinctive feature of the region’s vernacular architecture.

The Yam are the principal nomadic tribe of Najran, historically known for their independence and resilience. Closely related to the Bani Murra, renowned as expert trackers and desert guides of the Eastern Province and the Empty Quarter, the Yam maintain strong tribal traditions shaped by both highland and desert life.

Yam women wear garments that are simpler than those of their settled counterparts in the Asir mountains, often without elaborate embroidery. Instead, their clothing is enhanced by striking silver jewellery, such as finely crafted rings worked into their hand-spun woollen headdresses. These headdresses are sometimes topped with a decorative silver ornament, adding both symbolism and shine. Their leather belts, traditionally hand-braided, complete a look that is both practical and elegant.

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