Saudi Arabia
Al-Ahsa Oasis
Al-Ahsa Oasis, an Evolving Cultural Landscape, is one of the largest natural agricultural palm oases in the world.
Al-Ahsa has been inhabited since prehistoric times, due to its abundance of water in an otherwise arid region. The water was distributed through a network of canals in the open air. The 12 inscribed locations comprise date palm groves, castles, urban centers, archaeological sites, villages, Jawatha mosque and Al-Asfar Lake.
Community Perspective: the reviewers so far found some of the components still under construction and others not findable at all. Martina declared the mountain Jabal Al-Qarah in the city of Al Hofuf the most interesting stop, while it would be hard to distill anything positive from Zoë’s contribution.
Site Info
Official Information
- Full Name
- Al-Ahsa Oasis, an evolving Cultural Landscape (ID: 1563)
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Status
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Inscribed 2018
Site history
History of Al-Ahsa Oasis
- 2015: Revision
- includes former TWHS Ibrahim Palace (Hufuf) and Sahud Palace (Al-Mabraz) both 1988
- 2018: Advisory Body overruled
- From Not to Inscribe to Inscription (amendment prepared by Kuwait and others)
- 2018: Inscribed
- Inscribed
- WHS Type
- Cultural
- Criteria
- iii
- iv
- v
Links
- UNESCO
- whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
- whc.unesco.org — whc.unesco.org/
Related Resources
- visitsaudi.com — Visit Saudi: Al-Ahsa Oasis
News Article
- March 6, 2024 arabnews.com — Hilton to operate 3 new resorts in UNESCO World Heritage Site Al-Ahsa
Community Information
- Community Category
- Cultural Landscape: Continuing
Travel Information
Recent Connections
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Controversial at inscription
ICOMOS recommended Not to inscribe ("se… -
Baths
Remains of Turkish hammam in Al-Hofuf -
Earth Architecture
Al-Qubbah Mosque and other buildings
Connections of Al-Ahsa Oasis
- Geography
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Hot Springs
"the oasis also boosts warm and hot water springs, which can reach 90 Fahrenheit. Ain Najm is the most important hot water spring in Al-Ahsa, famed for its hot sulphurous water." SeeSee www.arabnews.com
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- History
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Neolithic age
The earliest occupation of Al-Ahsa is in the location of the present Al-Hofuf, where remains from pre-ceramic Neolithic culture (before 6000 BCE) have been found. (AB ev) -
Ottoman Empire
Qasr Ibrahim in the city center of Al-Hofuf is the main architectural built heritage from the Ottoman period of Al-Hofuf (AB ev)
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- Ecology
- Architecture
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Earth Architecture
Al-Qubbah Mosque and other buildings
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- World Heritage Process
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Controversial at inscription
ICOMOS recommended Not to inscribe ("selection of isolated components that do not add up to the idea of an overall cultural landscape", "largescale modern water management networks, and the modern urban developments since the 1960s, have greatly impacted the property"), which was fully overturned without objections by the WHC (opposition lead by Kuwait) -
Derived from more than one TWHS
former TWHS Ibrahim Palace (Hufuf) and Sahud Palace (Al-Mabraz) both 1988 -
WHS with enclave
Components 1 and 2 have 2 modern villages excluded
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- Religion and Belief
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Notable mosques
Jawatha Mosque - the earliest mosque built in east Arabia (wiki)
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- Human Activity
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Irrigation and drainage
The circular urban shape of the villages of Al-Ahsa resulted from an irrigation canal on one side and a drainage canal on the other side circling the village as a result of the developed water management systems in Al-Ahsa (AB ev) -
Palm Groves
numerous densely cultivated palm groves (AB ev) -
Sea Ports
Al Uquair Port
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- Constructions
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Baths
Remains of Turkish hammam in Al-Hofuf -
Bazaars and Market Halls
al-Qaysariyah market for food, spices and fabric (AB ev) -
Canals
drainage canals
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- Timeline
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Built in the 7th century
Jawatha Mosque ( c. 629 AD) + "Al-Ahsa reached its maximum integration and size during the Islamic period (from 661 to the 10th century CE)." (AB ev)
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News
- arabnews.com 03/06/2024
- Hilton to operate 3 new resorts in…
Recent Visitors
- Xiquinho Silva
- Szabolcs Mosonyi
- Harry Mitsidis
- Eva Kisgyorgy
- George Gdanski
- Alexander Barabanov
- Tarquinio_Superbo
Visitors of Al-Ahsa Oasis
- Alexander Barabanov
- Alexander Lehmann
- Artur Anuszewski
- Bill Maurmann
- Bram de Bruin
- CugelVance
- Dorejd
- Eva Kisgyorgy
- Fernweh
- futtaimhb
- George Gdanski
- Gilles
- Hanming
- Harry Mitsidis
- Ivan Rucek
- Jarek Pokrzywnicki
- jballard650
- Jean Lecaillon
- Joshuakirbens
- liu tuo
- Loic Pedras
- Luis Filipe Gaspar
- Maciej Gil
- manman2411
- Martina Rúčková
- michaelsballard
- Nick Kuzmyak
- PabloNorte
- Philipp Peterer
- Piotr Wasil
- Rahelka
- Randi Thomsen
- Roger Ourset
- Rvieira
- Sascha Grabow
- SHIHE HUANG
- Stanislaw Warwas
- Svein Elias
- Szabolcs Mosonyi
- Szucs Tamas
- Tamara Ratz
- Tarquinio_Superbo
- Thomas Buechler
- Vanessa Buechler
- Vlad Lesnikov
- Wojciech Fedoruk
- Xiquinho Silva
- Zach
- Zoë Sheng
Community Reviews
Show full reviews
Time of the visit: the 4th of dec.2024
I stayed for three days in Riad in order to get to know SA's capital a bit, and to visit the Al-Ahsa Oasis and the Turaif-quarter (both unesco whs).
I had booked my ticket online for the train from Riad to Hofuf just a few days earlier to make sure that I got one as I had read that that train is often booked out. However,the train was quite empty. I took the one early in the morning.
After my arrival in Al-Ahsa I took an ueber taxi from the railway station first to the Jawatha mosque. As I had read that the mosque is tiny I told my driver to wait for me as I would be back within 5-10 min. I stormed out of the taxi and saw a man leaving the mosque and the door wasn't closed when I was already inside. I took some pics and went out where the aforementioned man looked at me quite puzzled. As I was in a hurry I didnt start a conversation.We headed then to the mountain Jabel Al-Quarah. On the way the taxi driver,a former saudi policeman,gave me all the important infos to know about Hofuf which I wanted to know.I stayed inside and outside the mountain Jabal Al-Quarah for almost 2 h. And like my fellow member Martina I consider the swiss-cheese superrock the most interesting stop of that unseco whs.
The Jabal Al-Quarah is like …
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The Al-Ahsa Oasis is listed on the World Cultural Heritage List as a place that has been inhabited for a long time since the Early Stone Age. This was helped by the presence of water, which was later diverted by local residents to their fields using canals. Wells, forts, mosques and gardens were built in the area and water greatly helped the development of this region. Twelve different locations are included in the listing, which together form the largest oasis in the world, which has over two and a half million palm trees.
The mountain Jabal Al-Qarah in the city of Al Hofuf was probably the most interesting stop for us. On one side a jungle of palm trees, and across the road a nice parking lot, several restaurants and a huge Land of Civilizations sign. It's quite nice to see at least some place ready for tourists - it's been quite a different experience in Saudi so far and everything seems under construction. The mountain itself, which consists of several rock pillars that have created a natural cave, can be accessed through the visitor center, of course after purchasing a ticket. For your entrance fee, you get access to the museum that tells the history of the civilizations living in this place and to the very maze of alleys between the stones. The sidewalks are resurfaced, illuminated, and there are many interesting places for taking photos in the nooks and crannies of the stone pillars. There are said …
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This inscription made me lose faith in the inscription process and although I haven't been following it for a long time, I watched the debate live stream and it basically had ICOMOS strongly disagreeing to include it, saying there isn't anything special being here. Then, using its political buddies it overturned the recommendation to a direct inscription, not even deferring it to next year for a second look or whatnot. This farce just makes you wonder why they spent all the money on the expert going there in the first place because apparently whatever you want to inscribe is going in, and not so much if you are a weak political state. Shame on you. But okay so you got your inscription and you are very proud of it, no judgement from my part yet, let me go and check it out.
After the long drive from Riyadh through trashed highways and a few pit stops to refuel and rest, and you get to the town of Al Ahsaa or actually a whole collection of “Al” towns merged together. There are a whole bunch of sites, some of them I don't even know where they are. I started with the Sahood Fort, mainly because the central highway was closed and this was first on the way. It's a very small block with thick replastered walls and a small entrance that probably says “no entry” because they are doing major renovation...AFTER the inscription?? Well so 5 minutes later I end …
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