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Sacred Heritage SiteAncient Nabataean religionWorld Heritage Site — Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā’in Ṣāliḥ) (2008)

Hegra Archaeological Site

موقع الحجر الأثري (مدائن صالح) · Mada’in Salih · Al-Hijr · Madain Saleh

Al-Hijr, AlUla, AlUla Governorate, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia

UNESCO-listed Nabataean city and funerary landscape in northwestern Arabia.

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Sacred Place Overview

About Hegra Archaeological Site

Identity, documented context and sacred significance.

Hegra preserves rock-cut tombs, inscriptions and monuments associated with the Nabataean kingdom and earlier communities. It is an internationally important archaeological destination.

Sacred Place at a Glance

A concise view of the place, tradition, location and heritage details available for this Sacred Place.

Place TypeSacred Heritage Site
Religious TraditionAncient Nabataean religion
LocationAl-Hijr, AlUla, AlUla Governorate, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia
CountrySaudi Arabia
ArchitectureNabataean rock-cut funerary architecture
HeritageWorld Heritage Site — Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā’in Ṣāliḥ) (2008)
Governing BodyRoyal Commission for AlUla

Faith, Tradition & Sacred Association

Religious tradition, dedication and sacred associations connected with this place.

Religious TraditionAncient Nabataean religion

History & Sacred Tradition

Documented history, sacred narrative and editorial synthesis are kept visibly separate.

Historical Record

UNESCO inscribed Hegra in 2008; its monumental Nabataean tomb façades date chiefly from the first century BCE to the first century CE.

Sacred Tradition

Al-Hijr is associated in Islamic religious narratives with the people of Thamud and Prophet Salih, but that identification should not be equated with archaeological proof that Nabataean tombs belonged to those figures.

Editorial Context

Archaeological Nabataean site with a separate Quranic tradition. The different chronologies and identities must not be conflated. Coordinates are UNESCO World Heritage property reference coordinates, not a particular tomb or visitor entrance.

Architecture & Sacred Complex

Nabataean rock-cut funerary architecture · UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed 2008) · World Heritage Site — Hegra Archaeological Site (al-Hijr / Madā’in Ṣāliḥ) (2008)

Monumental tomb façades and inscribed rock-cut monuments characteristic of Nabataean Hegra.

How to Reach

Road, rail, air and local-access information where documented.

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Information Status & Sources

Information Status

Status
Unverified
Last checked
October 15, 2026