Hegra (Mada'in Salih)

الحجر

Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site, with 111 Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone. It is the “sister city” of Petra, and the Lone Fortress tomb is the most spectacular.

الحجر (Hegra, also called Al-Hijr or Mada’in Salih) lies about 22 km north of AlUla. From the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD, it was the second-largest city of the Nabataean Kingdom after Petra, and an important stop on the incense trade routes. It became Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site in 2008. The site preserves 111 monumental tombs carved into isolated sandstone outcrops, 94 of which have decorated façades. Many lintels still bear Nabataean inscriptions recording the names of the tomb owners and the dates of construction, and the state of preservation is even better than at Petra. The most famous is the Lone Fortress tomb (Qasr al-Farid), carved on a single freestanding boulder with four storeys of façade. Because it was never finished, you can see the carving process from top to bottom. Other highlights include the Qasr al-Bint tomb group, decorated with carvings of an eagle and a serpent; the religious assembly hall and narrow canyon at Jabal Ithlib; and the old Hejaz Railway station. Visits can only be made by booking a guided tour through the Experience AlUla official website. Tours by vehicle take about 2–3 hours and cost roughly 100–300 riyals. Other options include horseback riding and classic cars. You cannot enter on your own. Shuttle buses run from central AlUla to the visitor center.

Hegra (Mada'in Salih)

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