22 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

Al-Ula, The Living Museum of Ancient Arab Civilizations

Al-Ula oasis is located in the lush Wadi Al-Qura, or “valley of villages”, about 110 km southwest of the modern city of Tayma and 380 km north of Medina.

Al-Ula was the capital of the ancient Lihyanites (Dedanites). Located in the Medina region of Saudi Arabia, the city contains the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The walled city of Al-Ula, an oasis in the desert valley city with its fertile lands and abundant water was founded in the 6th century BC. It was located on the “Incense Road”, a network of roads that facilitated the trade of spices, silk, and other luxury goods through Arabia, Egypt, and India.

Al Ula Raven Kayası
Al-Ula Raven Rock

Al-Ula stands where the biblical city of Dedan is located. But was founded during the ancient Lihyan Kingdom of Northern Arabia, which ruled between the 5th and 2nd century BC. The history of the oasis is divided into several chapters.

The Kingdom of Dedan is mentioned in the Harran inscriptions. Al-Ula has become the most important settlement in the region until modern times. The Ottoman Empire built the Hejaz railway between 1901-1908 to connect Medina and Damascus. The railroad has main stations in both Mada’s Salih (Hegra) and Al-Ula.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The area has an incredibly rich heritage with numerous archaeological sites dotting the landscape.

Al-Ula is described as a mirror of the ancient world civilizations in the Arabian Peninsula. Research has uncovered a civilization that is more than 200,000 years old at the same location along the ancient incense trade route from the south of the Peninsula to the north. Al-Ula is a tourist destination for all visitors from various parts of the world interested in archeology, nature, arts, and culture.

Visitors can enjoy a thrilling experience in the site, which has recorded the highest record in the archaeological world, containing 5,000 inscriptions carved into the rocks on Mount Ikmah, as well as 111 archaeological tombs that house 94 carved tombs.

The vertical sandstone cliffs surrounding Al-Ula provide large surfaces for rock art, making Al-Ula the richest petroglyph site in the Kingdom. Ar-Ruzeiqiah is a mountain in the southern part of Al-Ula with a large petroglyph panel with hundreds of pictures, including depictions of hunting scenes with humans and various animals.

Jebel-Khawail-Al-Ula
Jebel Khawail, Al-Ula

The best times of the year to visit Al-Ula are between October and April. During this period, the city enjoys a mild climate with temperatures ranging from 10 to 25 degrees Celsius. The period from May to September witnesses high temperatures ranging from 20-35 degrees Celsius.

Ikmah Mountain is full of archaeological inscriptions from the dawn of Arab civilization as well as writings and inscriptions from other civilizations and is called the “Open Library”.

Mada in salih
Mada’s Saleh was known as El Hijr or Hegra by the Nabataean people who carved their magnificent tombs into golden Quweira sandstone ledges. The fine details in the entrance portals and the smooth surfaces of the 111 tomb facades reflect the great ingenuity of the masters of their time.

In addition to the green oasis in Al-Ula, there are various rock formations in different areas, making the site a special place for nature lovers. Al-Ula is also a home for many plants and animals.

The importance of Al-Ula as an archaeological and historical site led to the establishment of the Al-Ula Royal Commission (RCU) in July 2017, whose purpose was to develop and promote Al-Ula as an international tourism destination. The main purpose of the institution is to carry out studies related to the promotion and development of this place.

Source: 1-https://www.experiencealula.com/en/discover-alula/heritage

2- http://saudi-archaeology.com/sites/al-ula

3-Al-Ula old town picture belongs to Pteropus Conspicillatus.

Related Articles

China’s 4300-Year-Old Ancient Pyramids

26 March 2021

26 March 2021

Shaanxi Province in Northwest China is famous for its rich archaeological treasures. Among the many sites discovered in Shaanxi, the...

The mystery of Cathedral of Salamanca’s astronaut figure, isn’t what people think it is

10 March 2022

10 March 2022

There is a photograph of an “astronaut” carved in a 16th century Spanish cathedral in Salamanca. Known as the Catedral...

The very unknown ancient city of the Mediterranean; Syedra

3 July 2022

3 July 2022

Known as Turkey’s holiday paradise, the Antalya region is a treasure when it comes to ancient cities. Close to the...

Explore 1,400-year-old ruins, submerged in Eastern China – Atlantis of China

10 June 2023

10 June 2023

Deep in Qiandao Lake, between China’s Five Lion Mountains, lie the mysterious ruins of two ancient cities, dating back to...

Discovering the rare works of Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum

13 October 2021

13 October 2021

The Sanlıurfa Archaeology Museum building involves many main attributes, such as the largest enclosed space and exhibition hall museum in...

The world’s earliest drawing of a ghost discovered in the British Museum vault

17 October 2021

17 October 2021

The world’s earliest drawing of a ghost has been unearthed in the gloomy vaults of the British Museum. The British...

A 4000-year-old Fabric Found in a Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert is the Oldest Dyed with Insect Dye

15 July 2024

15 July 2024

Researchers discovered an ancient textile dyed with kermes (Kermes vermilio) in Israel’s Cave of Skulls that dates back to the...

Monastery Behind the Clouds “Sümela”

26 April 2021

26 April 2021

Trabzon has hosted tens of civilizations throughout history, and as a result, it is home to a plethora of historical...

City swallowed by sea now center of boat tours

10 September 2023

10 September 2023

The Kekova region, or Sunken City, which has remained under the sea after two major earthquakes in the sixth century...

Life continues in Iran’s 12,000-year-old settlement “Meymand village”

8 February 2022

8 February 2022

At the south-eastern Iranian province of Kerman near Shahr-Babak city, there is a village dating back to the Stone Age....

Delikkemer Aqueduct: A Roman Engineering Wonder Along the Lycian Way

17 May 2025

17 May 2025

Hidden among the lush forests of southwestern Turkey, the Delikkemer Aqueduct stands as a testament to ancient Roman ingenuity. Located...

Rose Red City “Ancient City of Petra”

12 February 2021

12 February 2021

Petra is one of the most interesting ancient cities in the world.This beautiful city, one of the 7 wonders of...

Foundations laid with human blood “Foundation sacrifices”

5 September 2021

5 September 2021

The custom of sacrificing a human being at the erection of a new house or fortress is very old. Foundation...

Saudi Arabia’s the Red Sea Project

7 February 2021

7 February 2021

Saudi Arabia is preparing a huge tourism project on the west coast of 28,000 square kilometers and will cover more...

Places to Visit in Oman

6 February 2021

6 February 2021

There are many places to visit in Oman. In this article, we wanted to talk about a wonderful country that...