Mada'in Saleh - First archaeological site in Saudi Arabia

Mada'in Saleh also called Al Hijr, is a pre Islamic archaeological site located in the AL Ula sector with in the AL Madinah region of Saudi Arabia.

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A majority of the vestiges date from the Nabataen Kingdom (1st century CE). The site constitutes the Kingdom's southernmost and largest settlement after Petra, it's capital. Traces of Lihyanite and Roman occupation before and after the Nabataen rule, respectively....

...can be found in situ while accounts from the Glorious Qur'an have revealed an early settlement of the area by the tribe of Thamud in the 3rd millennium BC.

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According to the Qur'an, Allah punished the Thamudis for their persistent practice of idol worship and for conspiring the kill Prophet Saleh AS. The non believers were struck by an earthquake and lightening blasts.

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In 2008 UNESCO proclaimed Mada'in Saleh as a site of patrimony becoming Saudia's first archaeological site for its well preserved remains from late antiquity especially the 131 rock cut monumental tombs with their elaborately ornamented facades of the Nabatean Kingdom.

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Qasr al Bint (Girl's palace) is a set of graves and facades that contain 29 tombs marvellously carved in a single mountain. The locals call it AL Bint Castle Collection. This name has an incorrect account among the locals.

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The facades of the graves are distributed to three directions of the mountain extending from north to south. The number of graves and facades in the west are 19 including one at top of the mountain whose sculpture is not completed.

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Qasr Asane'a is located at the beginning of the monumental area. Upon entering, it consists of two small hills to the right and the left. The graveyard to the left is called Asane'a Tomb by locals but has no scientific basis. It is rather linked with the story of Madain Saleh.

Adivan- an ancient Diwan (meeting place) engraved in the rocks that was used by the tribal elders for important meetings. Locals call it Yuan Abu Zeib and some call it Sultan's Majlis. Adiwan is a wonderful feature because of the presence of many religious symbols in the area.

Qasr al Fareed - this grave is located in the southern part of the monumental area. It is a large grave occupying a distinctive, humongous rock. It is named as the Al Fareed palace because it's engraved in a single rock.