Al Henakiyah: History along the Naqrah Route

Al Henakiyah offers a historical focus for trip planning: the town was an important stop on the Naqrah Route, while rock carvings east of it depict people and animals. The history of the route and the archaeological evidence provide a clear thematic framework. If you are looking for a destination connected to historic routes and rock art, these themes offer a concrete point of reference.

Al Henakiyah on the Naqrah Route

Al Henakiyah was an important stop on the Naqrah Route. This route was a branch of the Iraqi Kufa Route, known as Darb Zubaydah. The names refer to different levels of the historical connection: the Naqrah Route was the branch, and Darb Zubaydah was the Kufa Route. This role in the network of routes offers a distinct way to understand Al Henakiyah’s history. It complements the archaeological and visual evidence in the surrounding area with a perspective on historic travel routes.

Al-Rabadhah and the traces of a historic settlement

Near Al Henakiyah lies Al-Rabadhah, an important stop on pilgrimage and trade routes for travelers from Iraq and the Islamic East to Mecca and Medina. The excavated remains include large houses and palaces, markets, production facilities, warehouses, and underground water cisterns. They also include a Friday mosque and a mosque in a residential area. The range therefore encompasses residential and supply buildings as well as places of trade, production, and religious life. Al-Rabadhah’s historical significance is evident both in its role along the routes and in the variety of archaeological remains preserved there.

Rock carvings east of Al Henakiyah

Sakhrat al-Ḩanākīyah is a mountain of red sedimentary rock, about 10 km east of Al Henakiyah. The rock carvings depict groups of men and women performing war dances or dances with religious significance. Animal depictions include cattle with large, forward-curving horns, as well as lions, leopards, goats, ostriches, giraffes, and other animals. The carvings are estimated to be about 7,000 to 9,000 years old. Human dance scenes and the diverse animal life form two distinct groups of motifs, making the rock art a subject in its own right alongside the history of the Naqrah Route.

The wider setting: Medina Province

The historical picture broadens across Medina Province. The province is described as a historical tourism destination; Al-Ula Governorate lies to the north. Among the cultural sites of wider significance in the Medina destination is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has more than 110 well-preserved tombs carved from desert rock, where the Nabataean elite were buried. Dadan was the capital of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan more than 2,000 years ago and was once a major hub on the Incense Route. Jabal Ikmah features hundreds of detailed inscriptions carved into rock faces and boulders; due to its historical significance, the site was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. These examples offer a glimpse of the historical diversity of Medina Province, while Al Henakiyah is connected to its own route history and the rock art in its surroundings.

Discover more destinations: Madain Saleh, Ar Rayis.

Back to the main travel overview: Al Madinah Province.