Archaeological site al-Hijr in Saudi Arabia - in pictures

Ancient Nabataean tombs are a historically important part of the old city

Ancient Nabataean carved tombs at the archaeological site of Al Hijr, near the north-western Saudi city of AlUla. All photos by AFP

Al Hijr, or Hegra, includes 111 tombs built about 2,000 years ago, most with decorated facades.

An ornately carved entrance at the site, which also has cave drawings and some pre-Nabataean inscriptions.

The Unesco World Heritage-listed archaeological site is now open to tourists.

Giant boulders guard the entrance to the site, whose tombs are carved from the natural rock.

Al Hijr is the largest conserved Nabataean site south of Petra in Jordan.

A partial view shows an ancient Nabataean carved tomb at the archaeological site of al-Hijr (Hegra), near the northwestern Saudi city of al-Ula, on January 31, 2022. - Dating back to the first century BC, the archaeological site, which is now open to tourists, includes 111 tombs most of which boast a decorated facade, cave drawings and even some pre-Nabataean inscriptions. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)

A tour group at the site.

The builders of the tombs drew on decorative and architectural influences from the Assyrian, Egyptian, Phoenician and Hellenistic cultures.

The local climate has kept the carved facades in a remarkable state of preservation.

The site bears testimony to a culture able to master a forbidding environment.

More from The National:

What to expect from Prince William's milestone visit to the UAE next week

Almost $90 million raised by Aliph to protect heritage sites in conflict areas

Meet Miss World Somalia, the first hijabi contestant in the pageant's history