With a historical past and rich culture, Saudi Arabia offers some of the best heritage destinations in the world. Additionally, there are 6 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Saudi Arabia with ‘outstanding universal value’. These sites provide a clear insight into the old civilizations that dwelled in the Arabian Peninsula before and after the origination of Islam. The sites help to understand the way of life of the old civilization and their evolution with time. From the remains of Nabataeans in Madain Saleh to informative rock art at Jubbah, the heritage sites are popular attractions among tourists worldwide.
Here are some of the most popular and most visited sites!
Hegra , Al Ula
It is the first Saudi site designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The intricate details on the entrances and the smooth surfaces of the 111 tomb façades reflect the skill of masons at the time. The location is a superb illustration of the Nabataeans' mastery of design and comprehension of hydraulics. The tomb facades have intricate carvings and distinctive modelling. At the summit, there is a central point from which two crowsteps ascend. A gate in the middle of the façade allows visitors to enter the tomb. The interior of the structure exhibits irregular sculpting in contrast to the sleek completed façades.
At -Turaif District, Diriyah
At-Turaif District, constructed in the fifteenth century, exhibits the magnificent Najdi architectural style. The central part of the Arabian peninsula is the only place with this kind of architecture. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the area was a well-liked center for politics and religion. The House of Saud's temporal dominance and the growth of the Salafiyya reform in Islam were both centered in At-citadel. Turaif's On the fringe of the ad-Diriyah oasis, the site has an urban ensemble and the remains of multiple palaces. The area has not undergone modern development because it has been abandoned for a considerable amount of time.
Al Balad, Jeddah
Historic Jeddah in the Al Balad district was established as the primary port for trade routes from the Indian Ocean in the 7th century AD. It helped in channeling goods to Makkah from around the world. The Gate of Makkah also served as a port entry for Muslim pilgrims traveling to the holy city by sea. The town has grown into a multicultural hot spot with a distinct architectural tradition, including towers and houses built by the city’s elite merchants in the late 19th century. Sources indicate that the area started to have fences and doors during the Portuguese campaign in Jeddah. The fences were raised in the middle of the sixteenth century to protect the city from invasions.
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