Ancient pre-Arabic rock inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah, AlUla

Snapshots

Ancient Dadanitic inscriptions in Jabal Ikmah, AlUla
Ancient rock art depicting camels in Abu Ud, AlUla
An Arabic inscription in Al Aqra'a Mountain, AlUla
Ornate facade of the Nabataean tomb carved into the rocks at Hegra (Mada'in Saleh), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in AlUla
The entrance at a Lion Tomb of Dadan, AlUla

Jabal Ikmah

Jabal Ikmah earned its name as AlUla's 'open library' for a documentary heritage collection that represents the largest concentration of well-preserved Dadanitic and Lihyanite inscriptions anywhere in the world.

Explore UNESCO's photographic gallery showcasing inscriptions that chronicle rituals, relations with neighboring kingdoms, and even depict the animals that roamed across the Dadanite Kingdom through remarkable rock art.

Ancient Dadanitic inscriptions in Jabal Ikmah, AlUla

Abu Ud

Beyond a blend of the Dadanitic script and early Arabic inscriptions, Abu Ud is a trove for rock art carved by ancient civilizations. The rock art preserves an image of the relationship between human inhabitants of AlUla and the region's rich biodiversity, with depictions of the animals that roamed the landscape, including camels, ostriches, and other animals.

Ancient rock art depicting camels in Abu Ud, AlUla

Al Aqra'a Mountain

Kufic Arabic inscriptions dominate the walls of Al Aqra'a Mountain, immortalizing the names, customs, and beliefs of those who inhabited and passed through the historical pilgrimage route north of AlUla Valley.

An Arabic inscription in Al Aqra'a Mountain, AlUla

Hegra (Mada'in Saleh)

Take a look at Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Hegra (Mada'in Saleh) archaeological site in AlUla, which features monumental Nabataean rock-cut tombs with ornate facades decorated with epigraphs.

Ornate facade of the Nabataean tomb carved into the rocks at Hegra (Mada'in Saleh), a UNESCO World Heritage Site in AlUla

Dadan, Old Town, and the modern city of AlUla

Beyond the unique documentary heritage of AlUla, the region is notable for its Dadan Lion Tombs, remarkable rock formation, and its Old Town.

The Old Town of AlUla was once a thriving social and commercial hub, featuring town squares, trading stores, and hundreds of houses. Continually inhabited from the 12th century until its last residents parted in the 1980s, AlUla Old Town is now a remnant of the past, with the modern city built besides it.

The entrance at a Lion Tomb of Dadan, AlUla