FlyZafy
Sign in
Jabal Ikmah

AlUla, Saudi Arabia

Jabal Ikmah

A canyon called "an open library": hundreds of ancient inscriptions in several early Arabian scripts carved on its rock walls. Visited on booked tours.

Favourite places

Local food

  • AlUla dates

    AlUla, Saudi Arabia

    AlUla's oasis has been farmed for thousands of years and is still full of date palms. Local varieties are sold fresh in season and packed all year — a good gift from the trip.

  • Oasis citrus

    AlUla, Saudi Arabia

    Oranges, lemons and other citrus grow under the palms of the AlUla oasis, and local farms sell fresh juice and produce in season.

Where to eat

Where to stay

  • AlUla town and the oasis

    AlUla, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels, guest houses and farm stays in and around the town and its palm oasis, close to the Old Town, cafés and the road north to Hegra.

    Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

  • Ashar Valley

    AlUla, Saudi Arabia

    Resorts and tented villas set among sandstone cliffs south of AlUla town, near Maraya and the airport. Quiet, scenic and best with a car.

    Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Culture

AlUla is a conservative oasis community. Dress modestly in town (shoulders and knees covered), ask before photographing people, and never climb on, touch or scratch rock carvings and tombs — the inscriptions are thousands of years old and fragile. Take all litter with you.

History

Jabal Ikmah lies close to Dadan, and its walls hold one of the largest collections of ancient inscriptions in Arabia, in Dadanitic, Lihyanite, Thamudic, Nabataean and other scripts. They include dedications, religious texts, names and records, and are a key source for understanding the languages that came before Arabic script.

Because of the density of its writing, the site is often called an open-air library. Some of the AlUla inscriptions have been recognised by UNESCO's Memory of the World programme.

Tour plans

The open library

2 hours

  1. Step 1: Meet the guide

    Start at your booked tour meeting point.

  2. Step 2: Walk the canyon

    See the inscription walls and rock art.

  3. Step 3: Learn the scripts

    Your guide explains the scripts and what they record.

Map

Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)

Travel information

Best time to visit

October to March; morning light suits reading the carvings.

How to get there

A short drive from Dadan, north of AlUla town. Book a tour through Experience AlUla; it is often combined with Dadan.

Getting around

A guided walk into the canyon on sand and rock.

Travel tips

  • Most heritage sites in AlUla — Hegra, Dadan, Jabal Ikmah and others — are visited only on ticketed tours or timed entries booked in advance through Experience AlUla (the official website and app). Book before you travel, especially in the cool season and during festivals, and arrive at the visitor centre or meeting point on time.
  • Look at the walls at an angle to the light — the carvings stand out better.
  • Never touch, chalk or trace the inscriptions.

All destinations