Al Jawf

The remote oasis of Al Jawf (Al Jouf) is one of Saudi Arabia’s greatest archaeological treasures. Located at the crossroads of one of the Middle East’s oldest trade routes, Al Jawf is the Kingdom’s most fertile region and has been inhabited for at least 750,000 years. A full day is required to see the highlights. Most visitors start their day at Dumat Al Jandal, an outstanding example of an early Islamic town, that was already an important commercial centre in the 9th century BC when it was referred to in Assyrian texts as ‘Adummatu.’ Dumat Al Jandal is dominated by the Al Marid castle, a vast circular walled fortress with foundations dating back to the 1st century AD. The castle is said to have once been connected by a tunnel to the 7th century Umar Ibn al-Khattab Mosque – one of the oldest intact mosques in the world – that may resemble the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina in its early stages.

Then, explore the well-preserved Al-Der residential quarter with its long alleys and impressive stone architecture to see a rare early example of town planning. Your tour complete, a short drive will bring you to the standing stones of Al Rajajil – Saudi Arabia’s ‘Stonehenge.’ These 6,000-year-old steles carved from sandstone – some of which are as tall as three metres and weigh as much as five tons – are an enigma to archaeologists. Speculation concerning use ranges from a temple to a meeting place and an astronomical function.

Continue to the ‘Camel Site,’ where three outcrops of rock depict at least 11 dromedaries of unprecedented size carved in both high and low relief some 2,000 years ago. The tour will conclude in Al Jawf’s modern capital of Sakaka with a visit to the mudbrick Qasr Al Za’abal and an opportunity to browse for handicrafts in the souq, including the colourful locally woven Sadu work.