The pages of history have been written on its golden sands.
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Its strategic location in the early days formed a civilized bridge between East and West, as it was one of the stations of the “Road of Incense” convoys.. to change the concept of the desert and turn it into a meeting place for cultural and civilizational dialogue and urban renaissance.. It delighted its visitors with festivals and events fraught with fun and excitement.. It is Al-Ula.
the site
Al-Ula is located in the northwestern part of the Kingdom, and it is one of the governorates of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah region, and it is 300 km away from it to the north. Al-Dhahabiyya has a (continental) climate that is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It rises about 700 meters above sea level, and has about 300 villages, while human settlement is 4000 years old.
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Travelers and explorers
The Arabian Peninsula region attracted many non-Arab travelers and explorers who took the trouble to travel more than 100 years ago to visit it, in order to study its ancient heritage and antiquities, such as “Madain Saleh” that dates back to 300 years BC, and historians described it as a mirror of civilisations. The ancient world in Arabia.
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The French travelers “Antoine Jaussen” and “Raphael Savignac” visited Mada’in Saleh in 1907 AD, and explored the inscriptions: “Nabatiyyah”, “Al-Ma’iniyah”, “Lihyaniyya” and “Thamudi” that were found in the houses carved on its mountains, and worked on analyzing and translating them into Arabic. well-known meanings, as well as providing a comprehensive description of the antiquities of the homeland of the Nabateans, known as Al-Hijr among Arab historians and geographers.
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Josen and Saviniac's trip was not limited to searching for defunct antiquities, but rather they studied them deeply, according to the King Salman Center for Studies of the History and Civilization of the Arabian Peninsula at King Saud University, where they visited the Arabian Peninsula three times, the first of which was in 1907 AD, and they arrived at Mada'in Saleh, but they were unable to visit "Al-Ula". But they returned to it in 1909 and 1910 AD.
The two French travelers were distinguished from other nationalities by their passion for the ancient heritage, as the French explorer Charles Hooper made two trips to the Arabian Peninsula; The first in 1880 AD, and the second in 1884 AD, during which he visited: Al-Jawf, Hail, Jubbah, Buraydah, Tayma, and Khaybar.
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Many historical studies also indicate that “Al-Ula” was visited by Muslim travelers during their pilgrimage trip, including: Ibn Battuta in the year 726 AH, and Abdul Qadir Al-Jaziri Al-Ansari in the year 961 AH.
Madain Saleh
The city of Al-Hijr or Madain Saleh, an archaeological site in Al-Ula Governorate, and “Al-Hijr” is the name of Diyar Thamud in the Valley of Villages between Medina and Tabuk, and it is said: Al-Hijr was known as Madain Saleh or the villages of Saleh. Al-Hijr is located 22 km northeast of the city of Al-Ula – at latitude 47-26N, and longitude 53-37E. The stone has been called this place since ancient times, and Al-Hijr derives its historical fame from its location on the ancient trade route that connects the south of the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, and from His companions, known as the “people of Thamud,” who were mentioned in the Qur’an as having answered the call of the Prophet of God Salih, then apostatized from their religion, and sterilized the she-camel that God sent them as a sign.
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The "Lihyanian" and "Nabataean" civilizations
According to archaeologists, the city of "Al-Hijr" (Mada'in Saleh) was inhabited by the Thamudis in the third millennium BC, and after them the Lihyanites inhabited it in the ninth century. Temples and tombs, and the Nabataeans attributed the construction of the city of “Al-Hijr” to themselves in the inscriptions that were found.
However, the city of “Al-Hijr” contains a huge amount of rhombic and Lihyan inscriptions that need to be studied and deciphered. The regions of Al-Ula, Dedan and Al-Kharbia are Lihyanian monuments, and the oldest of them probably dates back to 1700 BC according to the writings, and part of it was destroyed by an earthquake.
It was established by the researchers that the Nabataeans were the first to settle the stone, “Madain Saleh”, and they reconstructed it. To the south, the remains of Madain Saleh show the magnificent engineering works for which they are famous, as you find more than 131 huge tombs carved on single standing rocks, amid a wavy world of sand, and islands of decomposing sandstone rocks that eroded and rippled to become wonderful carved shapes.
Incense Road
Al-Ula assumed an important commercial location on the ancient caravan route, and the site of “Al-Hijr” occupied a strategic place on the ancient trade route, the “incense road”, which linked the south of the Arabian Peninsula to its north and the civilizational centers in Mesopotamia, the Levant and Egypt, where Al-Ula was a meeting point and a passage for incoming trade caravans. From Africa, Asia, and the south of the Arabian Peninsula, which carries spices, perfumes, and incense, so it was called the “incense road.” The importance of Al-Ula governorate was not only in the presence of “Madain Saleh” and commercial caravan routes, but in the heritage village there is a mosque built by the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace. With stones, and the line of its mihrab with a bone, so it was called the “bones” mosque, and the village is surrounded on three directions by a number of fields, palm plantations, citrus fruits, and fruits. According to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage in several of its reports.
Royal Commission
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, an independent commission was established for Al-Ula Governorate, under the name “The Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate”. In order to achieve the envisaged economic and cultural interest, and the objectives upon which the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 was based.
The Royal Commission works to revitalize the region, protect it, and preserve its details in the long term, by bringing about a radical and sustainable transformation with the participation of the region's residents, which contributes to enhancing domestic and foreign tourism, and getting to know various global cultures.
The authority brought to Al-Ula Governorate a number of international restaurants and inns between its valleys and mountains, designed according to the latest engineering standards while preserving the most accurate details of the picturesque nature, in addition to developing and training the sons and daughters of the governorate through scholarship programs to study tourism and hospitality, history, archeology, arts and art history. Museum development, urban and urban design, environmental planning, agricultural technologies, facilities management and services in the largest and most important international universities and institutes. The Authority aims to attract two million visitors annually by 2035, and provide 38,000 new job opportunities.
Winter at Tantora
The Kingdom was able to reveal the treasures of Al-Ula to visitors and tourists through various marketing programmes, which enhanced its presence at various levels, including conferences, forums and international forums, including “Winter at Tantora”, which is a global festival that sheds light on arts, culture, history and heritage in Al-Ula Governorate, whose activities attracted tourists. And visitors from different countries of the world and enjoy artistic performances, culture and adventures, to host a number of international events, including the first world championship for desert polo, and a number of art exhibitions that were held in the open air, such as the “Desert X Al-Ula” exhibition, which was established to connect desert societies and cultures through art. Contemporary, in addition to equestrian races, Al-Ula Rally and balloons, and a large number of various cultural, artistic, musical and sporting events. The successful attendance supported the recent steps taken by the Kingdom to support the tourism sector, by receiving tourists globally, including the launch of the electronic tourist visa, reservation services and determining the duration of the tourist trip and other services.
Maraya Theatre
The Guinness Book of Records documented the Maraya Theater, which was established in Al-Ula, in its list of records as the largest building covered in mirrors in the world. The “Maraya Theater” was given this name because its facade was covered with giant mirrors to reflect the magic of the picturesque nature in Al-Ula, and the curtain was unveiled on the new exceptional facade. For "Maraya Theater" in a special ceremony held by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate, during the second season of the "Winter at Tantora" festival.
The theater can accommodate about 500 people, and the design of the “Maraya Theater”, which is located in Wadi Ashar near the foot of the volcanic Harat Awerid, equipped with the latest theatrical and operatic sound systems, takes the form of a cube, whose external walls are completely covered by mirrors, to be an architectural extension of the charming nature of Al-Ula, while The façade of the theater has an area of 9,740 square meters of mirrors.
Frankincense tree
It is a peregrina tree that belongs to the Moringa plant family, and its oils are used in the medical industries as fragrant and antiseptic materials, as well as in the perfume and cosmetics industries.
The Al-Ula Authority is working to develop its cultivation with local farmers. The Authority has also cooperated with them to purchase and press 2,500 kg of Peregrina seeds during the current harvest season, with the aim of sending the extracted oil to international laboratories specialized in quality testing and to start marketing it internationally, to become one of the pillars of The local economy in Al-Ula.
Al-Ula still has secrets that strike deep into history. The beauty of its desert and the purity of its sweet breeze are food for the soul.. As for imitating the kingdoms and civilizations that passed from there, it is another story.
* Royal Commission projects in Al-Ula:
Al Sharaan Resort
Al Sharaan Reserve
security program
International scholarship program
The Global Fund for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard
Sharaan Reserve
Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate, Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, launched the Sharaan Nature Reserve in Al-Ula Governorate in 2019, as part of a series of major strategic projects undertaken by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate.
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Sharaan Nature Reserve has set a new standard in the region to restore balance between ecosystems. The development of the natural reserve focuses on rehabilitating the natural ecosystem, repopulating indigenous species in the region, developing vegetation by planting indigenous acacia trees, and releasing wild species into the reserve. According to international standards, and specifically in accordance with the guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
The largest global fund of its kind was established to protect the Arabian leopard under the name: “The Global Fund for the Protection of the Arabian Leopard”, as this project will enable the resettlement of the Arabian leopard in the region in the future. During the launch of the reserve, 10 ibex, 10 red-necked ostriches, and 20 gazelles were released.
Sarah Al-Otaibi (Jeddah) @sarahalotaibi9