T H E R O Y A L E M B A S S Y O F S A U D I A R A B I A I N R O M E - M E D I A S E C T I O N

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C U L T U R A L H E R I T A G E

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T H E R O Y A L E M B A S S Y O F S A U D I A R A B I A I N R O M E - M E D I A S E C T I O N

D i s c o v e r i n g

S A U D I A R A B I Ac u l t u r a l h e r i t a g e

RIYADH

EASTERN REGION

NAJRAN

ASEER

NORTHERN

AL JOUF

AL QASSIM

TABUK

AL MADINAH

MAKKAH

HAIL

JAZAN

AL BAHA

regional map

Riyadh City

Jeddah city

Makkah Al Mukarramah

Madinah city

Dammam

Farasan Islands

32,552,336FLAG EMBLEM RELIGION LANGUAGE

B A S I C I N F O

A Journey into the Past

Saudi Arabia traces its ancient roots back to the earliestcivilizations of the Arabian Peninsula. Petroglyphs drawn intorock facades throughout the peninsula are among the mostvivid testimonies of the social, cultural and economic lives ofpeople in Arabia, from as early as the late Paleolithic through topre-Islamic times. Over the centuries, the peninsula has playedan important role in history, as an ancient trade centre and asthe birthplace of Islam and land of the Two Holy Mosques.  Saudi Arabia,  which occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula,has therefore plenty of stunning historical sites, which allowsthe visitors to make an enriching  journey into the past. In linewith the principles of the Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia iscommitted to the restoration of these sites and strives to havethem registered internationally, to make them accessible toeveryone, create a living witness of the Saudi ancient heritageand showcase its prominent place on the map of civilizations.

mada'in salih

The archaeological site of Mada'in Salih, also called Al-Hijr, is the first archaeological site inSaudi Arabia to be listed by the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee (2008). Formerly it was known as Hegra and it is the largest conserved site of Nabataeans civilization,after the site of Petra in Jordan. Mada'in Salih is located in the Al-Ula province, within the Al-Madinah Region of Saudi Arabia. 

In July 2017, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula was established to emphasize the historicalimportance of the province. The area has an incredibly rich heritage, with innumerablearchaeological sites dotting the landscape.  Mada'in Salih features well-preserved monumental tombs, with decorated facades dating fromthe 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. The site consists of four necropolis, which include111 tombs (94 of them are decorated), a siq (a narrow gorge, usually it was the main entranceto the city), walls, towers, water conduits and cisterns. The site also features about 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and some cavedrawings. It is an outstanding illustration of the architectural style specific to the Nabataeans,consisting of monuments directly cut into the rock, and with facades bearing a large number ofdecorative motifs. The site includes also a set of wells, most of which were sunk into the rock and are still in use,demonstrating the Nabataeans' mastery of hydraulic techniques for agricultural purposes.

Thanks to its location, at a meeting point betweenvarious civilizations of late antiquity - on a trade route between the Arabian Peninsula,the Mediterranean costs and the Asia continent -Mada'in Salih  bears also witness to the encounterbetween a variety of decorative and architecturalinfluences (Assyrian, Egyptian, Phoenician,Hellenistic) and the epigraphic presence of severalancient languages (Lihyanite, Thamudic,Nabataean, Greek, Latin). The site is still wellconserved and its integrity is remarkable becauseof its early abandonment; It also benefit, over avery long period, of highly favorable climaticconditions. 

Mada'in Salih Al-Madinah Region

Al Madinah Region

AL-TURAIF DISTRICT IN AL-DIR'IYAH

Al-Turaif  District, located in Al-Dir'iyah, is a unique example of the Najdi architectural and itsdecorative style, developed to cope with the extreme desert climate; it was declared a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site in 2010. Al-Dir'iyah is an historic oasis located on the banks of Wadi Hanifa (Hanifavalley), located in the north-West of Riyadh, and it represents an important symbol in the history ofthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 1744, Al-Dir'iyah became the capital of the First Saudi State. Betweenthe 18th and early 19th century, its political and religious role increased and the citadel Al-Turaifbecame the centre of the temporal power of the House of Saud.   It remained the most famous city of the Peninsula even after the Ottoman Empire's armies destroyedthe city and its geographical area. Al-Dir'iyah is distinguished for its nature and beautiful settings, suchas streams and fertile lands. The architecture,  the dwellings and irrigation network of Al-Dir'iyah bearwitness to a building method that is well adapted to its environment; it shows  the use of adobe inmajor palatial complexes, along with a remarkable sense of geometrical decoration.

Riyadh Region

Turaif Neighborhood is considered as one of the mostimportant landmarks in the historic Al Dir'iya, since it isthe home of the most important archeological buildings,palaces and historical monuments. It includes many of the administrative buildings of theSaudi First State, such as Salwa Palace, which was built inthe late sixteen century and it was a ruling base of thewhole country.   Besides Salwa Palace, there are many other landmarks,like the Imam Mohammad bin Saud Mosque, the Saad binSaud Palace, the Nasir bin Saud Palace and theTraditional Guesthouse, which is the Turaif Hamam(bathrooms). Turaif is surrounded by a large fence withtowers, that were used for surveillance and the defenseof the city in the past. The palaces varied from single-storey structures, like the restored Nasir bin Saud Palace,to two-storey courtyard palaces, like the Saad bin SaudPalace, to the three and four-storey buildings, like theSalwa Palace, which were taller and wide. 

rock art in ha'il There are many locations around the regions of Tabuk, Najran, Ha'il, and Medina replete withpre-Islamic petroglyphs. However, the most important and largest archeological sites in theKingdom are in Ha'il region. They are: Jabal Umm Sinman at the site of Jubbah (90 kmnorthwest of the city of Ha'il), whose history goes back to 7000 BCE; Jabal Al-Manjor andJabal Raat at Shuwaymis (250 km southwest of Ha’il and near the town of Al-Hayit). These sites are are inscribed on the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites since 2015 as "Rock Artin the Hai'l region". Together, these sites contain the biggest and richest rock art complexes inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and in the wider region. Jabal al-Manjor and Raat at Shuwaymis form the rocky escarpment of a wadi (valley), nowcovered in sand. They show numerous representations of human and animal figures covering10,000 years of history and suggest, amongst many other things, that water buffalos andmammoths may have existed in the region millennia ago.  At Jabal Umm Sinman, the ancestors of present-day Arabs left marks of their presence innumerous petroglyph panels and inscriptions depicting a landscape, that once overlooked afreshwater lake. These petroglyphs were created by using a range of techniques, with simplestone hammers.

Ha'il Region

historic jeddah

The Historic Old Jeddah is located in the hearth of the present city of Jeddah, located in Makkahregion. Old Jeddah dates back to the pre-Islamic era; in 2014, it was listed in the World HeritageCommittee of UNESCO.  At the beginning of the Islamic era, in 647 CE, the city saw a major turning point when it wastaken by Caliph Uthman, as the port of Makkah. It became the major port for Indian Ocean traderoutes, channeling goods to Makkah. From that time on, the city of Jeddah gained its historicdimension, as one of the most important cities along the Red Sea coast and gateway of the Two Holy Mosques. These twin roles saw the city develop into a thriving multiculturalcenter. This strict association with the Muslim annual pilgrimage (Hajj) gave Historic Jeddah acosmopolitan population, where Muslims from Asia, Africa and the Middle East resided andworked, contributing to the city's growth and prosperity. The association with the Hajj is also very evident in the urban structure of the city. It is found in the traditional souks, in the architecture and in the very social fabric of the city,where Muslims from all over the world mingled, lived, and worked together.  The city was characterized by a distinctive architectural tradition, which include tower houses,built in the late 19th century by the city’s mercantile elites; Its architectural tradition combinesthe Red Sea coastal coral building decorative style, with influences and crafts from along thetrade routes. There are also lower coral stone houses, mosques, souks (old markets) and smallpublic squares, that together compose a vibrant space.

Makkah Region

visitors. Jeddah was, for centuries, the mostimportant, largest and richest city among thesesettlements and today historic Jeddah is the lastsurviving urban site along the Red Sea coast, thatstill preserves the ensemble of the attributes of thisculture: commercial-based economy, multi-culturalenvironment, isolated outward-oriented houses,coral masonry construction, precious woodworkdecorating the facades, and specific technicaldevices to aid internal ventilation.

Historic Jeddah reflects also the final flourishing ofthe Indian Ocean sea trade after the opening ofthe Suez Canal in 1869 and the introduction ofsteamboats that linked Europe with India andAsia. This brought enormous wealth to manymerchants, who built lavishly decorated houses,and it also led to developments of souks andmosques. In addition, the increase in sea goingvessels allowed many more pilgrims to make thepilgrimage to Makkah, resulting in an expansion inthe provision of accommodation for these 

al-ahsa oasis

Al-Ahsa Oasis is the largest desert oasis in the world and it became part of the World HeritageList in 2018.  It includes 10.000 hectares with more than 3 million date-palms trees, 65 fresh andhot water springs. It is located in the Eastern region and 60 km is its inland distance from theArabian Gulf. Due to its abundance of water in an otherwise arid region, Al-Ahsa has beeninhabited since prehistoric times. Natural fresh-water springs have surfaced at oases in the region for millennia, encouraginghuman habitation and agricultural efforts since prehistoric times. The first human presence in Al-Ahsa was dated back to the 5th millennium BCE; The area comprise gardens, canals, springs,wells and a drainage lake, as well as historical buildings, urban fabric  and archaeological sites.They represent traces of continued human settlement in the Gulf region from the Neolithic tothe present, as can be seen from remaining historic fortresses, mosques, wells, canals and otherwater management systems. On the banks of this oasis there are many agricultural projects, due to the abundance of water,and freshwater springs. From the large number of springs Al-Ahsa acquired its name.  Amongthem, there are for example, Al-Jawhariah, Um Sab’ah, Al-Khodoud and Al-Harah Springs, inaddition to the sulfur water. Al Ahsa is also known for its pleasant weather.

Eastern  Region

Dumat Al-Jandal

Dumat Al-Jandal is an oasis located in the region of Al-Jouf, north of Saudi Arabia. It is thelargest and best-known oasis at the northern limit of the great Al-Nafud desert. Dumat Al-Jandal served as an important station in the complex system of trade routescrossing the Arabian Peninsula, both from north to south and from east to west. The townhas survived through the ages thanks to the local ability to exploit water, which is supplied bya complex hydraulic system of wells, channels, and underground tunnels named Qanât. 

dumat al-jandal

Qasr Ma'arid (Ma'arid Castle) is the prime siteof historical importance in Dumat Al-Jandal. Itis a huge structure built of rough stone andmortar construction technique. It stands on a natural limestone outcrop,overlooking the valley where the ancient oasislies; its position, which occupies what appearsto have been a genuine acropolis, suggeststhat the Qasr Ma'arid must have been the siteof one of the oldest settlements at Dumat Al-Jandal, dating at least back to Nabatean times.

Umar bin al-Khattab Mosque is certainlythe most emblematic monument in Al-Joufregion. According to Saudi scholars, it waserected in the Umayyad period (661-749 CE),although some attributes its construction tothe time of Islam’s second caliph ‘Umar binAl-Khattab (634-644 CE), of which carries thename. The minaret has five storeys rising to aheight of about 15 meters, and ends with akind of pyramidion. 

Dumat Al-Jandal represents and example of fruitful cooperation in the archeological fieldbetween Saudi Arabia and Italy. In 2009, the Italian archeologist Prof. Alessandro de Maigretcarried out the first archeological mission. The site is listed in the UNESCO Tentative List ofSaudi Arabia in order to qualify for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Al-Jouf region

Rijal Almaa

Rijal village is located in the Aseer region and is the capital of the Rijal Almaa governorate. The village was a natural corridor linking those coming from Yemen and the Levant to Makkahand Madinah which makes it an important regional commercial center. The village consists of about 60 palaces built from natural stone, clay and wood. This village,which developed mainly during the 8th century CE, not only represents the architecturalsubgroup within the Aseer Region but also bears witness, for the Kingdom as a whole, to thetraditional forms of rural life, which were abolished by the agricultural revolution in the 20thcentury.  

Rijal Almaa Heritage Village

The village contains a heritage museum established by the efforts of the local inhabitants,who turned one of the forts into the museum headquarters in 1985. The Saudi Commissionfor Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) has later adopted a rehabilitation project for thevillage with the participation of partners from the public and private sectors.   Rijal village is today listed as part of the Tentative List of Saudi Arabia in order to qualify forinclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Aseer Region

Zee Al-Ain

The historical village of Zee Al-Ain is located 265 km south-east of Makkah, in Al Baharegion. Built atop a marble hill, it is also known as the "Marble Village". It is a 400 years oldabandoned stone settlement and it witnessed the battles between the Ottoman Turks andits inhabitants. Zee Al-Ain has been placed on the list of tentative UNESCO World HeritageSites, thanks to its exceptional features. According to UNESCO "The Traditional Village ofZee Al-Ain is an outstanding example of traditional human settlements that are perfectlyadapted to their environment and their social and economic raison d’être".

Zee Al-Ain, the marble village

A nearby natural spring provides water to alush oasis surrounding the bottom of the hill.The village was named after this water springthat flows continuously from the nearbymountains to several reservoirs. The villagehas 49 dwellings, and was built on the summitof a white mountain famous for the cultivationof banana, lemon, pepper, basil and Kadi, andfor the local handicrafts. The village has manytwo to four floors houses, a small mosque andmany forts used to defend and survey thevillage.

The houses are now empty, but some doorsare still open so that visitors can enter andexperience how the life of the inhabitants ofZee Al-Ain was several centuries ago. One ofthe striking aspects of these Arabiantraditional houses is the cool temperaturethey offer. A walk along the stone stairs ofZee Al-Ain historical village not only offersunlimited picturesque viewpoints of thetraditional houses, but it is also a delightfulexperience that brings people back in the18th century, when the village was at itsapogee. 

Al-Baha Region

Fort Za'abal

Fort Za'abal is a fortress located in Al-Jouf Region. The fort is built of sandstone and clay. Thecurrent structure, consisting of a wall surrounded with four watchtowers and a water reservoir, isbelieved to have been built 200 years ago. However, archeological evidence shows severalstructures have existed on this site since the first century CE.  It’s prominence, at the highest point in the area, gives it a commanding view of the city, but itserves more than one purpose. The courtyard of the fort is also designed to be a catch basin forwater, which is then fed into a well system that runs underneath the city. The wells are big enoughfor people to walk through.

FORT ZA'ABAL

Al-Jouf Region

Tayma Oasis

Tayma is a city located in Tabuk region and is one of the oldest settlements in the Kingdomof Saudi Arabia, and in the whole Arabian Peninsula. In 2016, the Saudi Commission forTourism and National Heritage (SCTH) announced that a joint research team, comprisingSaudi archaeologists and experts from Oxford University, discovered the oldest human boneduring an excavation at Tayma. The bone found was the middle part of the middle finger of a human being, who lived 90'000years ago. Thus, the oldest human trace found in the Arabian Peninsula.

tayma oasis

The importance of Tayma is attested in manyancient texts. Tayma is one of the few places inthe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (along with DumatAl-Jandal), that is mentioned in Mesopotamiantexts. The oasis lays in a natural depression,where a lake formed when the climate of theArabian Peninsula was more humid. Today,after nearly 8'000 years of desertificationprocess, Tayma still benefits from natural wellsthat have been maintained for millennia. InTayma oasis, there is Bir Haddaj, one of themost famous wells from ancient times and anoutstanding architectural landmark for theregion.

The well is known to date back at least to themiddle of the 6th century BCE, during theBabel occupation. Latest archaeological andpalaeo-environmental research indicateoccupation by a sedentary population asearly as the 4th millennium BC. Theimpressive mudbrick walls of the outerfortification  may be dated as early as the 3rdmillennium BCE. In the 5th century BCE, theentire oasis of Tayma was abandoned andburied, so the well fell into disuse for manycenturies. In 1973 King Faisal Al-Saud visitedTayma and ordered the installation of fournew water pumps.  

Tabuk Region

September 2018

The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Rome media section