Hail Travel Guide: Jubbah Rock Art, Qasr Barzan and the North

Hail is the capital of Saudi Arabia’s Ha’il region — a northern plateau city surrounded by volcanic rock formations and ancient landscapes. It was historically significant as the capital of the Rashidi dynasty, rivals to the Al Saud in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today its main draw for visitors is the Jubbah rock art site — one of Saudi Arabia’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites for rock art.

Jubbah Rock Art

Jubbah, approximately 100 kilometres north of Hail city, contains some of the oldest petroglyphs in the Arabian Peninsula. The carvings are etched into a rocky outcrop that stands at what was once the shore of an ancient lake — the landscape here was dramatically different thousands of years ago when the climate was wetter and the region supported large animal populations.

The carvings include representations of humans in various poses, animals (aurochs, gazelles, ostriches, dogs), and geometric and abstract patterns. Some carvings date to approximately 10,000 years ago. The UNESCO listing covers Jubbah alongside the Shuwaymis site to the south. See the full Jubbah rock art guide for detailed information on what to expect.

Qasr Barzan

Qasr Barzan is a historic fortified palace in the centre of Hail city, associated with the Rashidi dynasty that ruled the region before the Al Saud consolidated power. The palace has been restored and opened to visitors as a museum. It is the most significant historic structure within Hail city itself.

Al-Hait Archaeological Site

Al-Hait (Fayd) is an ancient settlement approximately 130 kilometres southeast of Hail. The site was a waystation on the Darb Zubayda — the historic pilgrimage route from Kufa in Iraq to Mecca. Ruins of cisterns, palaces, and a mosque survive. For those interested in the archaeology of Arabia’s ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, it is worth the detour.

The Landscape

The Ha’il region sits on a plateau between the Nefud desert to the north and the central plateau of Najd to the south. The Aja and Salma mountain ranges frame Hail to the south — these granite formations are distinctive and the landscape around them is particularly striking at sunrise and sunset.

Getting There

Hail has a regional airport — Ha’il Regional Airport — with flights from Riyadh and Jeddah. By road from Riyadh it is approximately 6 hours northwest. A car is essential for reaching Jubbah and the surrounding sites. Book Jubbah and Hail tours through our Hail page.