Medain Saleh

Petra, Jordan's stone city, is well-known among history aficionados, particularly Middle Eastern history buffs. Petra was built out of the rocks in a deep canyon by the Nabateans, an ancient Semitic civilization. The city was constructed in a fortified location with access to water and along caravan routes.

Medain Saleh is a city in Saudi Arabia located many miles southeast of Petra. Medain Saleh, south of Petra, is the most well-preserved site of the Nabataean civilization. The site also features cave inscriptions from a far older time, as well as well-preserved massive tombs with decorated façade dating from the 1st century BC to the 1st century AD. It includes a total of 111 tombs, 94 of which are adorned.

In 2008, UNESCO designated Medain Saleh as a World Heritage Site, making it Saudi Arabia's first. Due to Saudi Arabia's limited tourism, few people have seen this ancient treasure.