Dadan and Jabal Ikmah

Dadan and Jabal Ikmah are two linked archaeological sites in the AlUla Oasis of north-west Saudi Arabia, north of AlUla Old Town. Dadan was the capital of the Dadanite and later Lihyanite kingdoms, which flourished roughly between the 6th and 1st centuries BCE and controlled the incense trade routes between southern Arabia and the Mediterranean. Visitors walk through excavated remains of the city, including temple areas, walls and a sanctuary, and see the famous lion tombs, burial chambers cut high into a sandstone cliff and flanked by carved lion figures. Nearby Jabal Ikmah is often described as an open-air library: a narrow canyon whose rock walls carry hundreds of inscriptions in Dadanitic, Thamudic, Nabataean and other early scripts, recording names, prayers and dedications. A rock-rubbing activity, about SAR 50, lets visitors take away an impression of an inscription. Access is arranged through the Experience AlUla app, where entry and activity prices should be checked, as they are estimates here. Visits take about 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on whether both sites are combined. Morning is the best time, with cooler temperatures and softer light on the cliffs, and the sites are usually quieter than Hegra. Taxis or hired cars from AlUla Old Town cost about SAR 40-60. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes, bring water and a hat, and avoid touching the inscriptions. Photography is generally permitted, but flash and drones are not. Guides explain the languages and the role of Dadan in regional trade, which adds considerable context to otherwise subtle remains. The sites combine well with a visit to the nearby Harrat Viewpoint and AlUla Old Town in the same day.