AL MABIYAT Excavations carried out between 1948 and 1985 unearthed build- ings within what is thought to be a large Islamic city, where mud and firebricks were used to build houses. It shows a complex society with large homes within the city wall and a host of artisans and craftsmen working outside. It is believed to have been
established around 700CE and grown quickly to become a great example of a successful Islamic civilisation. Each year, students spend time excavating the site, which is 15 kilometres south of Al ‘Ula near Mugheira village. Work is expected to take another 20 years, but each year more of the city’s secrets are revealed.
Part of the full-day Al ‘Ula city tour Groups size: up to 50 A tour guide is vital
MADA’IN SALEH Mada’in Saleh, a pre-Islamic site 22 kilometres from Al ‘Ula, became Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage site in 2008. The archaeological remains in Mada’in Saleh are often compared with those of Petra, the famous Nabatean capital situated 500 kilometres north- west in modern-day Jordan. The site dates from the Nabatean
era and was the kingdom’s south- ernmost and largest settlement after Petra. Traces of Lihyanite and Roman occupation before and after the Nabatean rule, respec- tively, can also be found, while accounts from the Qur’an tell of an even earlier settlement. The burial graves combining
Egyptian, Assyrian and Greek features, observed by the Nabatean sculptors during their travels, are some of the most fascinating for anyone interested in this period of Arabian history. Of the 131 tombs, 35 carry deeds written in Nabatean script over their doors. Historians date these 35 tombs back to 75CE.
Group size: up to 50 Arrive as early as possible to avoid the heat, especially in the summer Take a packed lunch
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2,3 & 5 Mada’in Saleh 4 Al ‘Ula
AL KHURAIBA Al Khuraiba, near Al ‘Ula in the north of the Madinah Province, is one of the sites attributed to the Kingdom of Lihyan, which dominated the area during the period between the 6th
and 2nd centuries BCE. It is a
treasure trove, with altars, incense burners and statues that contain ancient Lihyanite inscriptions.
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