alBireh

al-Bireh, also spelled al-Bireh, is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank. It lies directly west of Ramallah, and together the two cities form a continuous urban area commonly referred to as Ramallah and al-Bireh. The city is administratively part of the Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate in the State of Palestine.

History and layout: The site has ancient roots and has been inhabited through multiple eras under various empires. In the modern period, al-Bireh developed as a governmental and commercial center for the central West Bank. Following the 1967 Six-Day War, it came under Israeli occupation; since the 1993 Oslo Accords, Palestinian civil authorities have exercised jurisdiction in parts of the city, with some areas under joint administration.

Economy and public life: Al-Bireh hosts a range of government offices, banks, markets, schools, and cultural facilities, serving residents of Ramallah and nearby towns. The city's roads provide access to major routes toward Jerusalem and other West Bank cities.

Demographics and culture: The population is primarily Palestinian Arab. Arabic is the dominant language, with English commonly used in business and administration. The urban area includes a mix of residential neighborhoods, religious sites, and commercial districts.

See also: Ramallah; Birzeit. Al-Bireh has in recent decades been a central node in the broader Ramallah metropolitan area.