ThePlace: Qaryat Al-Faw, one of the ancient cities of the pre-Islamic era in Saudi Arabia

Photo/Saudi Tourism

• Qaryat Al-Faw intersects the ancient trade route Najran–Jerhae at a strategic point

The ancient city of Qaryat Al-Faw is located in the foothills of the Tuwaiq mountains, where it intersects with Wadi Al-Dawasir, overlooking the northwestern edge of the Empty Quarter.
Qaryat Al-Faw, which is 700 km southwest of Riyadh, is considered one of the most important ancient cities of the pre-Islamic era in Saudi Arabia.
It was the capital of the Kinda Kingdom from the first century B.C. to the fourth century, one of the ancient kingdoms in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. It also intersects the ancient trade route Najran–Jerhae at a strategic point.
The discovery of Qaryat Al-Faw is one of the most important international archaeological finds as it captures a pre-Islamic Arab city with all its components still intact. Houses, wells, roads, market places, temples and graves were all found at this site.