About
Mada'in Salih, also known as Hegra or Al-Hijr, is an archaeological site in the Al-Ula area of Al-Madinah Province, in north-western Saudi Arabia. It is the kingdom's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is the place to see the best-preserved monuments of the Nabatean civilisation in the country.
What you will see
The site features rock-cut tombs and carved inscriptions dating from the 1st century BCE to the 1st century CE. It was the southern capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, and its tombs, cut into the sandstone, give a clear picture of how that kingdom laid out and honoured its dead.
Planning a visit
- Location: Al-Hijr, Al Ula 43563, Saudi Arabia
- Contact by phone: +966-14-8842020
- Also listed as Hegra, Al-Hijr and the Al-Hijr Archaeological Site, so you may see any of these names on signs and maps
The visit suits travellers interested in archaeology, ancient history and carved rock architecture. Because the monuments stand in open desert country, allow time to walk between them and to take in the landscape around the tombs.
The area around it
Mada'in Salih lies within the wider Al-Ula area, so a trip here can be combined with other sights in the same region. Many visitors plan a day or more to explore the site at a relaxed pace and to learn about its place in the story of the Nabatean Kingdom before or after they walk among the tombs.
