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Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

Maghaer Shuaib, Al Bad’

Nabataean tombs carved into sandstone cliffs near the town of Al Bad’, in the ancient land of Midian. Local tradition links the area with the Prophet Shuaib.

Favourite places

Historical places

Local food

  • Mandi

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    Lamb or chicken cooked slowly in a closed pit or oven over smoky heat and served on fragrant rice. Common across southern Saudi Arabia, with roots shared with neighbouring Yemen.

  • Kabsa

    Tabuk, 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).

  • 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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Where to stay

  • Coast and Al Bad’ area

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia

    For a longer trip west, there are small hotels and furnished apartments in the coastal towns towards the Gulf of Aqaba, closer to Al Bad’ and the Red Sea shore.

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  • 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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Culture

The site connects the Nabataean world of Petra and Hegra with the stories of the Prophets that are well known across the Muslim world. Visitors from the Kingdom and abroad come both for history and for this tradition.

History

Maghaer Shuaib — “the caves of Shuaib” — is a group of tombs cut into the rock faces of a valley near Al Bad’, west of Tabuk towards the Gulf of Aqaba. The façades were carved by the Nabataeans, the same people who built Petra and Hegra (Al Ula), around 2,000 years ago.

The area is identified with ancient Midian, and local tradition connects it with the Prophet Shuaib, who is mentioned in the Quran. The site has been studied by archaeologists and is now cared for as a heritage site.

Tour plans

Midian and the coast

2 days, 1 night

  1. Step 1: Drive west from Tabuk

    Head towards Al Bad’ through the mountains.

  2. Step 2: Maghaer Shuaib

    Explore the tomb façades in the afternoon light.

  3. Step 3: Night near the coast

    Stay in a coastal town on the Gulf of Aqaba.

  4. Step 4: Return to Tabuk

    Drive back, stopping at viewpoints on the way.

Travel information

Best time to visit

October to April, in the morning or late afternoon when the rock faces are lit and it is cooler.

How to get there

  • From Tabuk: a long drive west by road, a few hours each way. Many visitors combine it with the Gulf of Aqaba coast in a two-day trip.
  • Guided trips: local operators from Tabuk run day and overnight trips.

Getting around

  • On foot: walk between the tomb façades; the ground is sandy and uneven.
  • By car: a car is needed to reach the site and nearby coast.

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.
  • Respect the tombs: do not climb on or touch the carved façades.
  • Heat: there is little shade — bring water and a hat.
  • Check access: confirm current visiting arrangements locally before the long drive.

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