Der Abi Saeed

Der Abi Saeed (Arabic: دير ابي سعيد) is a city in Irbid Governorate in Jordan. It is named after a historic Christian chapel ('Der' in Arabic) in the place where the city is built. The city gained importance in the early 20th century after the formation of a self-governing body following the fall of the Ottoman Empire. Der Abi Saeed is the administrative center of the Koura Department, one of the nine departments of Irbid Governorate.

Der Abi Saeed دير ابي سعيد
City
Der Abi Saeed
Coordinates: 32°30′9″N 35°41′32″E
Grid position	214/212
Country	Jordan
Province	Irbid Governorate
Government
• Type	Municipality
Population  (2015)[1]
• Total	29,590
Time zone	GMT +2
• Summer (DST)	+3
Area code(s)	+(962)2

Geography

The city is located in the Jordanian part of the Houran Plateau, about 25 km to the southwest of the city of Irbid in the province of Irbid Governorate, and about 83 km to the north from Jordan's capital Amman.

The historic mosque of Der Abi Saeed

History

In 1838 Der Abi Saeed's inhabitants were predominantly Sunni Muslims.[2]

The Jordanian census of 1961 found 1,927 inhabitants in Deir Abu Sa'id.[3]

Districts

The municipality of Der Abi Saeed includes eight districts:

• Der Abi Saeed
• Kafr Al-Maa
• Al-Samt
• Marhaba
• Abu Alqain
• Jeffin
• Ashrafiyeh
• Tibnah

References

1. "The General Census - 2015" (PDF). Department of Population Statistics.
2. Smith, in Robinson and Smith, 1841, vol 3, 2nd appendix, p. 165
3. Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics, 1964, p. 20

Bibliography

• Government of Jordan, Department of Statistics (1964). First Census of Population and Housing. Volume I: Final Tables; General Characteristics of the Population (PDF).
• Robinson, E.; Smith, E. (1841). Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai and Arabia Petraea: A Journal of Travels in the year 1838. 3. Boston: Crocker & Brewster.