RIYADH: In a concerted effort to promote heritage tourism in the Kingdom, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH), in cooperation with the Hail governorate, will set up a heritage village in Jiba. The city is incredibly rich in rock art and was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list recently.
“Jiba municipality will implement a number of projects to serve visitors and a heritage village would be established in Jiba, which will have a positive impact on the city and its visitors,” an SCTNH spokesman said on Friday.
“Besides the expropriation efforts to finalize tourism projects, the Jiba municipality will continue its cooperation efforts with SCTNH to promote heritage tourism in the province,” the official said.
Moreover, the department of tourism and antiquities at the Hail university will work in collaboration with SCTNH to conduct required scientific studies and documentation of the rock sites, besides intensifying scientific publication on them, he informed.
He pointed out that the inclusion of Hail rock art in the UNESCO heritage list will make Hail province a center of attraction for tourists which will substantially benefit the people Hail province.
Notably, the Hail province is incredibly rich in rock art, with major and minor sites sprinkled over much of its territory and includes two major components situated in a desert landscape — Jabel Umm Sinman in Jiba, which is located about 60 to 80 kilometers inside Hail Nofoud and the area is full of rock inscriptions and drawings.
The Jabal Al-Manjor and Raat Al-Shwimis site is located in the south-west of Hail province, about 270 km from the city of Hail. The rock drawings include animal and human figures dating back to different historical periods.
Domestic tourism is projected to witness an unprecedented growth, and the SCTNH wants to increase tourist numbers as more visitors means more employment and a better economy.
“At the same time, we also want to preserve our cultural heritage by promoting heritage tourism,” the official said.
Heritage village in Jiba to promote Hail tourism
Heritage village in Jiba to promote Hail tourism
AlUla’s ancient scripts come alive after dark at Ikmah
- Gen-Z local Omer Mohammad guided Arab News through the vast outdoor setting of ‘Secrets of the Scribe’
ALULA: Ikmah Mountain, also known as Jabal Ikmah, one of AlUla’s landmark archeological sites, is offering visitors a new experience this week as part of the Winter at Tantora programming, which ends on Jan. 10.
Near the ancient city of Dadan, Ikmah highlights AlUla’s role as a major cultural and religious center long before the rise of the Nabataeans. It is being activated under the stars in a brand new, old way.
The site, often described as “an open-air library” for its hundreds of ancient inscriptions carved on its canyon walls thousands of years ago, provides visitors with have a chance to etch their own names, using the ancient alphabet, on a block of stone they can take home.
Written mainly in Dadanitic and Lihyanite, the ancient texts once recorded religious dedications, laws, names of rulers and traced everyday life, providing rare insights into the beliefs and social structures of early Arabian kingdoms.
Arab News spoke with Gen-Z local Omer Mohammad, who guided us through the vast outdoor setting of the “Secrets of the Scribe — Ikmah After Dark” experience.
“When the guests arrive, we welcome them ... give them some tea to get refreshed. After that, if the group is big, we split them into two; some of the group goes to go to the carving where they are going to learn how to carve. And the other group is going to go to explore the gorge,” he said.
Storytelling was such an important thing here 3,000 years ago. People from all over the world used to bring their animals and rest here; it had a river so it had some water and everything.
Omer Mohammad, AlUla local
The gorge is an elevated path with candles lighting the way on both sides.
“In the scripts and descriptions you’re going to see (in the mountains), you will get to know more about Dadani lives and what they used to do here,” he said.
After the hike down, visitors from both groups join at the gathering point where everyone is encouraged to rest, mingle and enjoy small bites such as dates and other goodies, as well as tea.
While it is a new experience, the tradition is old.
“Storytelling was such an important thing here 3,000 years ago. People from all over the world used to bring their animals and rest here; it had a river so it had some water and everything,” he said.
Dressed in garb from olden times and speaking in poetic prose, Mohammad and his peers guided us to see the light in the dark night.
“It is significant to me personally to work on this project to get people to come here and get excited (about) what’s happening, enjoy our stories and know more about Dadani life,” he said.
On a personal note, Mohammad is grateful to know more about his own history and wants to continue passing on that newfound knowledge to all generations — both younger and older than his own — and be part of the unfolding story of the land and its people.
“I guess you can say that this is the land of my ancestors. I really love history, and I really would like to know more about history — and my history,” Mohammad said. “But I just learned about this ancient history three years ago when I started working here.
“I never had the experience before, so when I knew more about it, I was so happy. And it was so good. Everyone should come,” he said.
