Agrabah

**Agrabah** is the central location of the 1992 Disney animated feature film, *Aladdin*. It is a glimmering, bustling Arabian desert kingdom, currently under the rule of a kind-hearted Sultan and his daughter, Princess Jasmine.

## Background

Agrabah is located near the Jordan River (as the narrator tells during the first few minutes of the film). However, the narrator also described it as being in a place where the "caravan camels roam," which is less frequent near the River Jordan and is more frequent in the Arabian countries of Morocco and Algeria. The city was founded by a man named Hamed, an ancestor of the Sultan and Jasmine. The Sultan is assisted by his council, which consists of various diplomats that aid the sovereign in governing the city. One notable councilman was Jafar, who served as the Sultan's Royal Vizier for some years.

Agrabah is described as "a city of mystery, of enchantment", and as such, has had numerous encounters with the fantastical throughout its existence. Some of which include sorcerers, genies, and flying carpets.

Agrabah is a melting pot of social classes; the wealthy tend to live closer to the Sultan's palace, while the poor live closer to Agrabah's entry wall. Agrabah's less wealthy citizens are commonly known as "street rats" (fem. "street mouse") and are marginalized as a group. The city also has an infamous underworld, with one area, in particular, is known as the "Thieves Quarters". The city is protected by the Royal Guard, headed by Razoul.

Agrabah is based on classical Baghdad. However, it more broadly represents a wider classical Islamicate culture, which encompassed the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent during this period, including Islamic empires such as the Abbasid Caliphate, Ottoman Empire, Safavid Persia, and Mughal India. Agrabah's architecture (including its palace and marketplace) was inspired by Islamic architecture, which encompasses elements of Arabic , Persian and Indo-Islamic architecture. The city's royal palace appears to be directly inspired by the Indian city of Agra's Taj Mahal, which was a product of Indo-Islamic Mughal architecture.
According to the *Aladdin* animated TV series, Agrabah is one of seven neighboring sovereign nation-states known as the Seven Deserts. Each one occupies a section of the desert that, collectively, forms a large circle shaped by the borders of each nation."The Citadel" Throughout the series, the other six are stated to be Quirkistan, Getzistan, Upanistan, Ghanistan, and the real-world nations of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Outside of their jurisdiction lie other desert kingdoms, such as the Land of the Black Sand, the subterranean kingdom of the Al Muddy, and the ancient city of Mesmaria. Beyond the Seven Deserts lie even more far off lands, such as the Frozen North, the barbarian kingdom of Odiferous, a tropical rain forest, and the home nation of both Mechanicles and Hercules, Greece.

## Places of Interest

* **The Sultan's Palace**: The home of the Sultan and Jasmine. Following his marriage to the princess, Aladdin and his friends took up residence in the palace. At night, the palace is illuminated.
* **Bazaar**: The marketplace where Aladdin and his sidekick Abu were usually found when scrapping for food and ducking from guards before they became royal. Now it is a popular destination for Aladdin, Jasmine, and the others to browse and sight-see.
* **Aladdin's home:** A run-down hovel where Aladdin spent most of his young life, with his monkey Abu. It is located far from the palace, but its elevated placement provides a stunning view of the city.
* **The Royal Academy**: A small but roomy one-room school where Sharma and Jasmine teach.
* **Thieves Quarters:** A seedy part of the city, where crooks and rogues gather to fraternize.
* **Desert**: A large landscape located outside Agrabah's gates. It is widely known as the Seven Deserts and holds many of the mysteries Agrabah is famous for along with various other neighboring kingdoms.
	+ **Cave of Wonders**: A large and mysterious cave in the shape of a tiger found in the middle of the desert. The cave holds many treasures and magical items, most notably the Genie's Lamp and the Magic Carpet.

## Role in Sora’s Adventures

Sora and his friends went to this kingdom in Sora’s Adventures in Agrabah

## Role in Heart of the Keybearer

### A Whole New World

In the first game, when Carl, Sarah and Harlynn arrived in Agrabah (and dressing in Arabic clothing), they found that the vizier Jafar was looking for the Keyhole in the desert. After finding Jasmine hiding from Jafar, the guards and Razoul capture the trio, locking them in the dungeon. A young man named Aladdin helps them escape along with his monkey Abu and his magic Carpet. Carl then meets Genie, who wishes to give Aladdin three wishes, of which he uses his first one to become Prince Ali Ababwa, and our heroes join in the parade in a Song Time segment of *Prince Ali.* Just when things are going great for Aladdin and Jasmine, Jafar summon a Pot Centipede to steal her away. Aladdin attempts to use his second wish to save Jasmine, but Iago steals the lamp and Jafar leaves them to slay the centipede (and reveals who Aladdin really is in another Song Time verse of *Prince Ali*).

After this, Jasmine has gone missing and Aladdin leads the group to the Cave of Wonders, where Jafar uses his first wish to reveal the Keyhole's location. As the gang makes their way to the Lamp Chamber, Jafar becomes infuriated and uses his second wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world. As his wish is granted, his outfit changes and a fight ensues with the former vizier. Aladdin's comment "Are you afraid to fight us yourself, you cowardly snake?" prompts Jafar to transform into Snake Jafar, where this world's final boss truly begins. After the fight, Aladdin tricks Jafar into using his third wish to become an all-powerful genie by saying, along with Carl, "The Genie has more power than you'll ever have!" This does turn him into a genie; however, Carl, Sarah and Harlynn trap Jafar and Iago into his lamp.

As Aladdin and Jasmine fly on Carpet back to Agrabah, with the Trinity Trio flying on their Keyblade Gliders, Aladdin soon apologizes for lying about being a prince back at the palace. Jasmine understands he had to do it because of that stupid law that she must marry a prince, and Genie even offers him to use his third wish to become a prince again. However, Carl helps Aladdin realize that the princess likes him just the way he is, and so he wishes for Genie's freedom instead. The Sultan also amends his law to suggest his daughter may marry whoever she chooses. Jasmine chooses Aladdin at this, while Genie hands Carl, Sarah and Harlynn a Lamp Heartbinder and Aladdin the Three Wishes Keyblade. Jasmine then gives her Essence of Pure Light to Carl's bracelet as they travel onwards and join the princess and her future husband in singing *A Whole New World.*

### The Return of Jafar

*Return of the Keybearer* features the crew's return to Abraham, where they discover that Iago has somehow joined Aladdin and Jafar's lamp has been stolen by a crook named Abis Mal.