Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization 

Mount Muhajjah is also surrounded by sand dunes, with desert plants such as arta, ramth, and various spring flora thriving in its low-lying pasturelands. (SPA)
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Updated 25 September 2025
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Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization 

  • The mountain is home to a vast collection of Thamudic rock inscriptions and drawings of people, camels, horses, gazelles, and lions, dating back to ancient civilizations and eras

RIYADH: Mount Muhajjah, one of the Hail region’s most well-known natural landmarks, is an example of the Kingdom’s history and culture. 

Situated 240 kilometers southwest of the Hail region, the rocky cavities of the mountain take on a range of shapes and layered gradients, revealing details of ancient earth layers and the effects of past eras, due to sand erosion and weathering on the mountain.

The mountain, in Al-Shamli Governorate, holds exceptional historical and geological significance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Its sandy, sedimentary rock formations contrast starkly with striking natural features resembling pathways and arches.

Mount Muhajjah is also surrounded by sand dunes, with desert plants such as arta, ramth, and various spring flora thriving in its low-lying pasturelands.

With its clear skies and diverse terrain, the site is an ideal destination for outdoor adventurers, tourists, visitors, and locals alike, especially during the winter and spring seasons.

The Heritage Commission said that Mount Muhajjah is a living record of ancient civilizations, a prominent landmark, and a destination for natural and cultural tourism.

It is distinguished by its special drawings and engravings, along with the surrounding sites that have been recorded and discovered through survey and rock art documentation projects.

The mountain is home to a vast collection of Thamudic rock inscriptions and drawings of people, camels, horses, gazelles, and lions, dating back to ancient civilizations and eras. 

Documented among the Thamudic inscriptions is “traveler’s journal” — traces left by travelers who passed through the area because it lay along ancient caravan and trade routes.

The mountain has long attracted the attention of travelers, both ancient and modern, as well as Saudi and Western researchers, leading to the publication of several studies and books focused on the interpretation of Thamudic inscriptions and the broader analysis of rock art in the region.

The Heritage Commission affirmed its ongoing efforts to protect the Mount Muhajjah site and highlight its scientific and cultural significance.

These efforts reflect the Hail region’s status as a hub of antiquities and rock art and supports the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to preserve national heritage and elevate its global profile.


 


Saudi wildlife authority releases predatory birds in Al-Soudah Park

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Saudi wildlife authority releases predatory birds in Al-Soudah Park

  • Aim to reintroduce, breed threatened wildlife
  • Birds were acclimatized to area’s environment

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has released several predatory birds into the wild under the Kingdom’s Green Initiative and the National Environment Strategy to breed and reintroduce threatened species.

On Wednesday, the NCW released them in Al-Soudah Park in collaboration with the Soudah Development Co. They included three griffon vultures, a black kite, Arabian scops owl, and a Eurasian sparrowhawk, all of which had been rehabilitated.

The birds underwent acclimatization to ensure they were ready to adapt to the area’s environment. Their release aims to enhance ecological balance and restore biodiversity in Al-Soudah Park, one of the Kingdom’s most prominent mountainous environmental zones.

They will help stabilize local species in mountain ecosystems by regulating food chains and maintaining habitat health, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The NCW will track the movement and behavior of the birds. It noted that this initiative is a part of ongoing programs across Saudi Arabia.