Fayd, Archaeological site in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia

Fayd is an early Islamic settlement in Ha'il Province, 92 km from Ha'il on the road to al-Qasim. Its core is the stone fort called Qasr Khurash, 120 by 80 m, built of black harra basalt with round and half-round towers; low wall stumps of connected chambers stand around it, and two Zubaydah pools, one square and one rectangular, lie nearby.

The site developed as a crucial hub during the medieval Zubaida Trail, where it served as an administrative center for pilgrimage routes. This role made it an important trading and supply point for caravans.

Fayd's name appears in early Islamic geographers' accounts, which describe a pulpit, markets and running springs there. Local tradition links the site to the Tayy tribe and its leader Zayd. Visitors can still see the stone courses of the residential quarter and the wells that supplied travellers on the Zubaydah Route.

Fayd lies 92 km from Hail on the highway linking Hail with Qasim, and 160 km from Qasim. The excavated area is bare earth and loose stone with a wooden plank walkway crossing the lower ground, so wear sturdy shoes. The Zubaydah pools are silted and only partly visible; the two pools, one square and one rectangular, are joined by a surface channel 40 cm wide with 60 cm walls.

The site contains numerous water wells and medieval irrigation systems that demonstrate sophisticated water management in the desert. This infrastructure was essential for allowing a larger population to exist in this dry region.