Hegra, Archaeological site in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia
Sandstone_cliff_faces_contain_111_Nabatean_burial_chambers_carved_between_the_first_century_BC_and_first_century_AD,_including_the_72-foot_monument_known_as_Qasr_al-Farid.
The_settlement_functioned_as_the_second_largest_city_of_the_Nabatean_Kingdom_until_106_AD,_when_Roman_forces_annexed_the_territory_and_redirected_trade_routes,_leading_to_the_gradual_decline_of_the_settlement.
The_region_displays_inscriptions_and_graffiti_in_multiple_languages_including_Nabatean,_Greek,_Latin,_and_Thamudic,_left_by_merchants,_pilgrims,_and_travelers,_documenting_the_site's_importance_as_a_crossroads_for_various_civilizations_over_centuries.
Visitors_reach_the_location_through_AlUla_International_Airport_with_connections_to_Dubai_and_Riyadh,_followed_by_a_35-minute_drive_northeast._Guided_tours_are_available_and_tickets_should_be_reserved_online_in_advance.
The_location_preserves_prehistoric_cave_drawings_and_an_advanced_water_management_system_with_wells_and_cisterns_that_Nabatean_engineers_developed_to_sustain_a_large_population_in_the_desert_environment.
Location: Medina Province
Part of: Pre-Islamic Arabia
GPS coordinates: 26.81417,37.94750
Latest update: November 28, 2025 11:16
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.
Qasr al-Farid
4.7 km
Al-Faqir Fort
1.1 km
قلعة الحجر
1.1 km
Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza | مقبرة لحيان بن كوزا
4.7 km
Al-Hijr Fort
1.1 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
Tomb, rock-cut tomb
3.5 km
Experience Center
1.5 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.4 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.4 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.4 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.4 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
Hegra Welcome Center
4.9 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
BusStop
5 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.5 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.6 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.6 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.6 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
2.8 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.2 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.3 km
Tomb, rock-cut tomb
3.2 km
Rock-cut tomb, tomb
3.2 kmReviews
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