Al Ula is a city 380 km north of Medina in
northwestern Saudi Arabia and is the closest city to Madain Saleh and was part
of the ancient incense route. Prior to the Nabataeans of Madain Saleh the area
was ruled by the Lihyanites who left inscriptions on the many rock faces near
the city. Ancient history is divided into several phases. The Dedanite kingdom
spans to the seventh and sixth century BC, with Dedan mentioned in the
"Harran Inscriptions". Here it is told how Nabonidus the king of
Babylonia made a military campaign to northern Arabia in 552 BC or somewhat the
region. The next four hundred years, until around 100 BC, were the time of the
Kingdom of Lihyan. The Nabataeans ruled the region until at least until 106 AD
when the Romans conquered their capital Petra. The Nabataeans made Hegra, the modern Madain
Saleh their second capital situated 22 kilometres to the north of Al Ula. In
the 13th century the old city of Al Ula was built and many stones of the old
Dedanite and Lihyanite ruins were reused. A railway station was built for the
Hejaz Railway in 1901-08. The railway line was built through the western part
of Al-Khuraiba some twelve kilometers to the north of the old medieval town
which is believed to be the site of the old Dedanite and Lihyanite town. In the
20th century the new town center was established beside the old town and
eventually the people left the old buildings with the last family said to have
left in 1983. Both the ruins of the medieval town and the site of the Liyhanite
settlement now lay within the limits of the modern city. Many inscriptions,
rock paintings and Nabataean wells can be found in the area that is now served
by a new airport built in 20012 with flights to Riyadh twice a week in 2014
(Thursday and Saturday). The Al Ula Arac Resort is the best hotel in town to
stay at and they can organize tours and tour guides of the area and Madain Sale
and obtain you permits to visit Madain Saleh if you send them copies of your
Iqamas.
