Jabal Ikmah
جبل عكمة
A canyon known as the “open-air library,” whose rock walls preserve hundreds of ancient Arabic inscriptions and rock carvings.
جبل عكمة lies in a canyon about 7 kilometers north of AlUla. It was the religious and cultural centre of the ancient Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms. The red sandstone walls on both sides of the canyon bear hundreds of inscriptions and rock drawings in several ancient scripts, including Dadanitic, Lihyanite and Nabataean. The content covers sacrifice, law and daily life. They are important material for studying the origins of the Arabic script, which is why the site is called the “open-air library” and has been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. Visits must be booked through Experience AlUla. A guide leads you along a wooden walkway into the canyon and explains the inscriptions (about 1–1.5 hours). The nearby دادان site, the capital of an ancient kingdom with the Lion Tombs, can be combined into the same itinerary. It is suited to visitors interested in history and archaeology. The canyon is strictly protected, and touching the rock carvings is prohibited.
Opening hours
Guided tours at reserved time slots
Nearby sights
- Maraya Concert Hall
- Dadan
- Harrat Viewpoint
- AlJadidah Arts District
- AlUla Oasis Heritage Trail
- AlUla Old Town
- Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)
- Hegra (Mada'in Salih)