Saudi Arabia contains the historic city of AlUla, near the ancient Nabataean site of Dadan.
AlUla lies in a fertile valley in northwestern Saudi Arabia, surrounded by sandstone mountains and crossed by historic caravan routes. The area was an important center for several ancient kingdoms, including Dadan and Lihyan, before the Nabataeans established nearby Hegra as a major city.
Dadan, also called al-Khuraybah, preserves temples, inscriptions, tombs, and monumental stone sculptures. These remains show that the oasis supported organized government, agriculture, and long-distance trade well before the rise of later Islamic settlements. AlUla’s position allowed merchants to move incense and other goods between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean world.
The region also contains the old town of AlUla and remains from later Islamic pilgrimage routes. It should not be confused with Hegra itself, which lies farther north within the same broad cultural landscape. The Royal Commission for AlUla manages extensive conservation and archaeological programs in the area.