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Jubbah Rock Art, Jabal Umm Sinman

Hail, Saudi Arabia

Jubbah Rock Art, Jabal Umm Sinman

Thousands of ancient rock carvings of people, camels and other animals on Jabal Umm Sinman near the town of Jubbah, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2015.

Favourite places

Historical places

Local food

  • Kabsa

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    The national dish: long-grain rice cooked in a spiced broth with chicken or lamb, served on a large shared platter with nuts, raisins and a tomato-chilli sauce (daqoos).

  • Jareesh

    Hail, 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.

  • Saudi coffee (gahwa) and dates

    Hail, 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

Where to stay

  • Central Hail

    Hail, Saudi Arabia

    Hotels and furnished apartments near the Barzan area, Al-Qishlah Palace and A’arif Fort — the most convenient base for sightseeing.

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Culture

The rock art shows camels, ibex, hunters and dancers — a record of life in Arabia long before the modern era. Local people in Jubbah are proud of the site and its UNESCO status.

History

Jubbah lies in a basin on the southern edge of the Great Nafud desert, north-west of Hail. Thousands of years ago the basin held a lake, and the people who lived around it carved and inscribed the sandstone of Jabal Umm Sinman with human figures, animals and later inscriptions in ancient scripts.

The carvings span many millennia, and together with those of Shuwaymis to the south of Hail they form the “Rock Art in the Hail Region”, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2015. They are one of the largest and most important rock-art landscapes in the Arabian Peninsula.

Tour plans

Jubbah day trip from Hail

Full day

  1. Step 1: Drive north-west from Hail

    Cross the edge of the Nafud towards Jubbah.

  2. Step 2: Rock art of Jabal Umm Sinman

    Explore the carvings with a guide.

  3. Step 3: Jubbah oasis

    Walk among the palms and old houses.

  4. Step 4: Sunset in the dunes

    Stop in the red sands before returning to Hail.

Map

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Travel information

Best time to visit

October to March, in the morning or late afternoon when the low light shows the carvings best.

How to get there

  • From Hail: Jubbah is north-west of the city, roughly a one-and-a-half to two-hour drive by road across the edge of the Nafud.
  • Guided visit: a local guide is strongly recommended; check current visiting arrangements before you go.

Getting around

  • On foot: walk the marked areas below the rock faces with your guide.
  • 4x4: useful for the sandy approach and the surrounding dunes.

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.
  • Off-road: desert, canyon and mountain trips need a 4x4 and a local guide who knows the tracks. Do not drive into the sand alone.
  • Water and heat: carry plenty of water, sun protection and a charged phone; mobile coverage can be patchy.
  • Protect the art: never touch, wet or chalk the carvings, and stay on paths.

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