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Hejaz Railway Station

Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Hejaz Railway Station

The restored stone station of the early 20th-century Hejaz Railway, which once carried pilgrims from Damascus to Medina. Old station buildings and rolling stock are on show.

Favourite places

Local food

  • Jareesh

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Cracked wheat slow-cooked with meat or chicken, onion and spices into a soft, porridge-like dish, finished with ghee and fried onions. A classic of central and northern Saudi kitchens.

  • Marqooq

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Thin sheets of hand-rolled dough cooked in a stew of meat, squash, tomatoes and spices — a warming home-style dish of the Najd and northern regions, popular in winter.

  • Saudi coffee (gahwa) and dates

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Lightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom (sometimes saffron or cloves), poured in small cups from a dallah and always served with dates. Offering it is the first sign of welcome in any Saudi home, majlis or heritage site.Read more

Where to eat

  • Restaurants around the old centre

    Central Tabuk, near the castle and the old market

    The streets around Tabuk Castle and the traditional market are lined with simple local restaurants serving kabsa, mandi and grilled meats, plus bakeries and shawarma counters.

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  • Main commercial roads

    The big avenues of central and northern Tabuk

    The main commercial roads have family restaurants, Middle Eastern grills, cafés and international chains. Most have a family section and stay open late in the evening.

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Where to stay

  • Central Tabuk

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels and furnished apartments close to Tabuk Castle, the Hejaz Railway station and the old market. The easiest base without a car.

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  • Northern Tabuk and the airport road

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Newer hotels and serviced apartments along the main roads towards the airport and the malls — practical for road trips out of the city.

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Culture

The railway is a symbol of the pilgrim journey and of the connections between Arabia and the Levant. Its stations along the north-west of the Kingdom are among the best-known heritage sites of the early 20th century.

History

The Hejaz Railway was built by the Ottoman Empire between 1900 and 1908 to carry pilgrims from Damascus to Medina, cutting a journey of weeks to a few days. Tabuk was one of the main stations along the line, with stone buildings for passengers, staff and water.

The railway was badly damaged during the First World War and never ran again south of Jordan. Tabuk's station has since been restored as a heritage site, with its buildings, platforms and historic carriages and a locomotive displayed for visitors.

Tour plans

The pilgrim roads of Tabuk

Half day

  1. Step 1: Hejaz Railway station

    Walk among the stone buildings and old carriages.

  2. Step 2: Tabuk Castle

    See the fort that guarded the older caravan route.

  3. Step 3: Coffee break

    Saudi coffee and dates in a café in the centre.

Travel information

Best time to visit

October to April, in the morning or late afternoon.

How to get there

  • From central Tabuk: a short taxi or ride-hailing trip from the old centre and most hotels.

Getting around

  • On foot: the station site is easy to walk around in about an hour.

Travel tips

  • Dress: modest clothing is expected in public — shoulders and knees covered for everyone; loose, light fabrics are the most comfortable. Women do not need to cover their hair as visitors, but a scarf is useful for religious sites.
  • Prayer times: many shops and some sites close briefly for each of the five daily prayers; plan around them.
  • Friday: the weekly holy day. Mornings are quiet and many places open only after the midday prayer.
  • Opening times: confirm current hours locally; heritage sites may change times during Ramadan.
  • Photography: the stone buildings and old rolling stock make good photos in low afternoon light.

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