Feb 18 • 06:24 UTC 🇶🇦 Qatar Al Jazeera

AlUla: The Story of a Saudi City that Shaped Rock to Carve the Memory of Heritage

AlUla is a Saudi city known for its historical significance and impressive rock formations, showcasing human ingenuity and its role as a center of ancient civilizations.

Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, AlUla not only serves as a tourist destination but also stands as a living testament to human ingenuity, with remarkable rock formations that have shaped its identity over thousands of years. These geological features encapsulate human history, recounting the succession of empires that established AlUla as a significant economic and political hub throughout the ages.

AlUla's strategic location along ancient trade routes connecting southern Arabia to the Levant contributed to the rise of successive civilizations, including the Lihyanites and Nabataeans. Among their lasting legacies is the archaeological site of Al-Hijr (Madain Salih), which features notable tombs and architectural monuments carved into the mountains. This site holds great historical significance, being inscribed in 2008 as the first Saudi site in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Beyond its striking rock facades, AlUla embraces a wealth of intricate details; for instance, at Jebel Ikmah, visitors encounter an 'open library' adorned with hundreds of inscriptions documenting legal practices and rituals from ancient times. These aspects underline AlUla's unique position as a repository of cultural heritage, bridging past and present, and making it an invaluable asset to Saudi Arabia's historical narrative.

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