Hegra (Mada'in Salih)
Hegra, also known as Mada'in Salih, is the largest Nabataean settlement south of Petra and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia.
Overview
Hegra (Arabic: الحِجر), also known as Mada'in Salih, is an archaeological site in the Al-Ula region of north-western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest Nabataean settlement south of Petra and the first site in the Kingdom to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in 2008.
The Nabataeans
Hegra was a major city of the Nabataean kingdom, which flourished from the second century BCE to the second century CE. The site contains more than a hundred monumental tombs cut into the sandstone outcrops, many with elaborate facades and inscriptions.
Significance
The site is a key monument of Nabataean civilisation and a major destination for cultural tourism, developed under Vision 2030 as part of the Al-Ula project.
References
- Hegra Archaeological Site \u2014 UNESCO World Heritage Centre (accessed 5 October 2026)
- AlUla and Hegra \u2014 Royal Commission for AlUla (accessed 5 October 2026)
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