Caves in Saudi Arabia’s northern region: Windows into history, gates to adventure

RIYADH: At least 542 caves and sinkholes had been discovered in Saudi Arabia's Northern Borders region, offering a wealth of destinations for tourists, adventurers and researchers, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.

Formed by geological processes, the caves and sinkholes of varying surface shapes offer a glimpse into the past, often revealing the secrets of humanity and unique geological formations, said the report, quoting Burjas Al-Falih, a member of the Afaq Society for Astronomy and a speleologist. 

Cave tourism has seen a surge in popularity among tourists and adventurers in the Kingdom in recent years. Among the most famous are the Jabal Qarah in Hufuf, the Dahl Heet in Riyadh city, and the Shuwaimis cave in Hail region. 

Teams from Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife (NCW) have recently began examining caves in the Northern Borders region as part of its Caves Exploration Program, which began in 2022.

According to the center, there are at least 1,826 caves in the Kingdom, consisting of underground passages and tunnels formed by natural processes in dry limestone areas — evidence of a historical era that experienced prolonged rainy climatic conditions.

The rock structures, often featuring stalactites and stalagmites, create breathtaking views.

Al-Falih emphasized the importance of documenting cave explorations. 

By clarifying locations, types, and access, adventurers can explore these sites responsibly, preserving their components and avoiding tampering, he said. 

Organizing official trips to these locations can also help ensure their protection, he added.

In earlier SPA report, Dr. Mohammed Ali Qurban, the chief executive officer of NCW, explained that the discoveries in the caves hold significant historical environmental value for the Kingdom.

“The cave ecosystems serve as a historical museum, providing evidence of the biological diversity that has existed in the Kingdom throughout various historical eras, as well as the spatial, environmental, and climatic changes in the Arabian Peninsula,” he was quoted as saying.

He said the center’s earlier discovery of Arabian cheetah mummies in a cave — with some skeletons estimated to be over 4,000 years old — provided the first evidence of the species’ presence in the Kingdom. 

Researchers from the center had also discovered rare bats and the remains of several extinct animals, he said.

The cave ecosystem is one of the rarest and most important of its kind in the world, recognized as natural heritage by UNESCO.