​The largest oasis in the world

Al-Hofuf is the urban center of the Al-Ahsa region located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. It hosts some of the most important typical features of the Eastern Province with the largest oasis in the world, the Jebel Al-Qarah and historical landmarks.

​Mystery of the origins

No ancient remains have been discovered in the city itself although it is possible that such remains existed but have been covered by the urbanisation of the oasis. It is believed that Al-Hofuf and the whole region of Al-Ahsa were part of the ancient land of Dilmun that is referred to in Mesopotamian texts. Also, there is speculation about  Al-Hofuf being the ancient city-state of Gerrha mentioned by the Greek geographer Strabo as having "fancy tools made out of gold and silver, such as the family gold, right triangles, and their drinking glass, let alone their large homes which have their doors, walls, roofs filled with colours, gold, silver, and holy stones". Additionally, some scholars believe that Gerrha is the archeological site of Thaj located 200 kilometers north of Al-Hofuf.

The recent history is clearer as the area came under Ottoman rule in the 18th century and was peacefully returned to Saudi rule by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud in 1913 CE.

​Al-Koot, the historical center

The heart of Al-Hofuf is in the area called Al-Koot where some of the oldest buildings are found, including the Ibrahim Fort and Mosque, the old house of the governor, and the Al-Qaisariah souq.

​The Al-Mulla House

The Al-Mulla house was built in 1203 H (1787-88 CE) by the Governor of Al-Ahsa, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Mullah. This house witnessed the advent of the peaceful conquest of Al-Ahsa by King Abdulaziz Al-Saud on 5th May 1913 when the governor of the city pledged allegiance to the new ruler of Arabia. Its style shows an elegant mix of Arabian and Ottoman architectural elements. The house has been restored and some of its original furniture is exhibited today, including the bed where the King Abdulaziz rested during his stay in Al-Hofuf.

​Ibrahim ​Palace

​Al-Qaisariah Souq

Al-Koot historical center hosts one of the most beautiful souqs of Saudi Arabia, Al-Qaisariah.

​Jebel Al-Qarah, Lands of Civilizations

There is a welcome area with facilities including restaurants and an exhibition about the ancient civilizations of the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle-Esat.

​How to visit Al-Hofuf

The city of Al-Hofuf appears on Google Maps along with a couple of points of interest.

Guides providing tours to Al-Hofuf

​The last great ancient oasis

The oasis of Khaybar is located in the Madinah Province, 170 kilometers north of the city of Madinah, in a series of depressions that collects rain waters ​thanks to which ​palm trees are grown for millennia. Khaybar is surrounded by ​the lava fields called "harra(t)", the largest one, ​the Harrat Khaybar, ​is called after its name.

Until today Khaybar benefits from permanent water points that surface at the lowest parts of the oasis and a lush vegetation can grow naturally there. From the numerous wells a complex system of irrigation canals is still used today to water the palm trees and offer a unique sight on how could have looked an Arabian oasis two thousand years ago.

​An ancient oasis

The presence of permanent water points ​in Khaybar attracted people since millennia as attested by numerous stone structures probably dating back to the Bronze Age. Its location along of the western caravan trade road between Yemen and the Levant, made of Khaybar an important oasis city since the 1^st millennium BCE as a stopover between Hegra (Madain Saleh) and Yathrib (Madinah). But the historical importance is also due to two landmark conquests in the history of the Arabian Peninsula that took place there.

Khaybar today

​The old village of Khaybar ​is made of ruins of abandoned ​buildings whose base (probably more ancient) is built with stones and the upper part is made of mud-bricks. ​Mosques, shops, houses and palaces that were ​​inhabited until the seventies are still standing today.

​The cultivated area is at the bottom of the basin ​and is overlooked by several rock peaks where ​old fortifications and villages were built, which matches the description of Tabari. Those natural promontories ​offers great visibility on the ​oasis, especially the one in the center of the oasis where is the main fort of Khaybar.

​Because of its irregular terrain exposed to floods, the modern city was built few hundred meters to the south on a flat land. As a result the oasis with its irrigated palm trees and old houses still probably looks like it was several hundred years ago. Therefore, climbing one of its rock peaks and looking over the oasis offers the experience of traveling back in the time of ancient Arabian oases and the caravan trade roads.

How to visit Khyabar