Al-Ula, Archaeological complex in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia.
The desert valley contains 111 carved stone tombs, ancient water cisterns, and extensive ruins spread across a 1.6-hectare archaeological area.
The settlement flourished from 800 BCE as the Dadan kingdom, later becoming an important Nabataean trade center between Egypt and Mediterranean regions.
The Jabal Ikmah section holds numerous stone inscriptions in multiple ancient languages, documenting 2,500 years of regional writing systems.
The Royal Commission for AlUla manages site access through guided tours, with the AlUla International Airport serving visitors from global destinations.
Twenty-nine tombs in the Jabal Al-Banat section were specifically commissioned for or dedicated to women during the Nabataean period.
Location: Medina Province
Elevation above the sea: 692 m
GPS coordinates: 26.60861,37.92361
Latest update: May 26, 2025 19:47
Saudi Arabia contains a wide range of historical locations spanning multiple periods, from Islamic holy sites to pre-Islamic archaeological remains. The country encompasses both religious destinations that draw millions of Muslim pilgrims annually and ancient settlements that reveal trade networks and civilizations dating back thousands of years. Among the most significant are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, the Nabatean tombs at Al-Ula, and prehistoric rock art in various desert regions. The collection includes sacred sites such as the Great Mosque in Mecca with its Kaaba and Zamzam well, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and pilgrimage locations like Mount Arafat and the ritual grounds at Mina. Archaeological sites preserve evidence of earlier inhabitants, including Madain Salih with its 111 rock-cut Nabatean tombs from the first century, the petroglyphs of Hail dating back 10,000 years, and the sandstone formations of Al-Ula. Urban centers like Riyadh feature the Masmak Fortress from 1865, while Jeddah's historic port district displays traditional coral stone architecture. Together, these locations document the religious, commercial, and cultural development of the Arabian Peninsula across millennia.
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