# Al-Ula

> city in Saudi Arabia

**Wikidata**: [Q27242](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q27242)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ula)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/al-ula

## Summary

Al-Ula is a historic city and oasis located in Medina Province, northwestern Saudi Arabia, situated at coordinates 26.6082971°N, 37.922708°E at an elevation of approximately 692 meters above sea level. The settlement, whose native name is العلا (Al-Ula), has a population of 32,413 residents according to the 2010 census and is renowned for its ancient archaeological sites including Qasr al-Farid (an ancient mansion and tomb dating to around 100 CE) and the distinctive Jabal Al-Fil rock formation. Often identified with the ancient city of Dedan, Al-Ula represents a significant historical and cultural destination in the Arabian Peninsula.

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: City and oasis (instance_of classification)
- **Location**: Medina Province, Saudi Arabia
- **Coordinates**: 26.6082971°N, 37.922708°E (primary); 26.60853°N, 37.92316°E (alternate)
- **Elevation**: 692 meters above sea level (circa)
- **Population (2010)**: 32,413 total (25,808 Saudi nationals; 6,605 expatriates)
- **Native Label**: العلا
- **Official Name**: العلا
- **Wikipedia Title**: Al-Ula
- **Wikidata Description**: city in Saudi Arabia
- **Sitelink Count**: 36
- **GND ID**: 7521752-1 (associated with Dedan)
- **VIAF IDs**: 126802727; 239674641
- **IDREF ID**: 096194073
- **Geonames ID**: 108841
- **Freebase ID**: /m/027798b
- **Pleiades ID**: 814671
- **Topostext Place ID**: 266379UDed
- **Trismegistos Geo ID**: 16868
- **GNS Unique Feature ID**: -3092572
- **Dewey Decimal Classification**: 2--538
- **Said to Be the Same As**: Dedan (ancient city)
- **Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire ID**: 25193
- **Encyclopaedia Britannica Online ID**: place/Al-Ula (Al-ʿUlā)
- **FactGrid Item ID**: Filino
- **Who's On First ID**: 1209820349
- **Pactols Thesaurus ID**: pcrtviEAvvDThR
- **Commons Category**: Al-'Ula
- **Image File**: Al_Ula_old_town,_Saudi_Arabia_2011.jpg
- **Page Banner**: Al-Ula_Old_Town_2021_Wikivoyage_banner.jpg
- **Available in**: Arabic, Arabic (Egyptian), Catalan, Cebuano, Danish, German, Greek, English, Esperanto, Spanish, Persian, French, Hebrew, Hindi, Western Armenian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Lithuanian, Malayalam, Malay, Dutch, Norwegian (Nynorsk), Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovenian, Tagalog, Turkish, Urdu, Chinese, Cantonese

## FAQs

**What is Al-Ula known for?**
Al-Ula is known for its rich archaeological heritage, including the ancient tomb of Qasr al-Farid dating to approximately 100 CE, the Jabal Al-Fil rock formation, and its identification with the ancient city of Dedan mentioned in historical texts.

**What type of settlement is Al-Ula?**
Al-Ula is classified as both a city and an oasis—an isolated area of vegetation in the desert environment of northwestern Saudi Arabia.

**Where is Al-Ula located?**
Al-Ula is located in Medina Province in northwestern Saudi Arabia, at coordinates 26.6082971°N, 37.922708°E, at an elevation of approximately 692 meters above sea level.

**What is the population of Al-Ula?**
According to the 2010 census, Al-Ula had a total population of 32,413 residents, comprising 25,808 Saudi nationals and 6,605 expatriates.

**What ancient sites are near Al-Ula?**
Nearby archaeological sites include Qasr al-Farid (an ancient mansion and tomb from around 100 CE) and Jabal Al-Fil, a notable rock formation in Saudi Arabia.

**What is the historical significance of Al-Ula?**
Al-Ula is believed to be the site of the ancient city of Dedan, which is mentioned in historical records and biblical texts, making it a significant location for understanding the history of the Arabian Peninsula.

**What languages is Al-Ula documented in?**
Al-Ula has Wikipedia articles in 30 languages, ranging from Arabic and Chinese to Turkish and Urdu, reflecting its international historical importance.

## Why It Matters

Al-Ula holds profound significance as one of Saudi Arabia's most important historical and archaeological sites. The city's identification with the ancient kingdom of Dedan, mentioned in both classical sources and the Hebrew Bible, provides crucial insights into the history of trade routes, civilizations, and cultural exchanges in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula. The archaeological remains, including the rock-cut tombs of Qasr al-Farid and numerous other ancient structures, represent some of the best-preserved examples of pre-Islamic architecture in the region.

Beyond its archaeological value, Al-Ula serves as a living oasis demonstrating human adaptation to desert environments—a testament to the ingenuity of ancient communities in utilizing limited water resources for agriculture and settlement. The city's location in Medina Province places it within the broader historical narrative of the Arabian Peninsula, connecting it to trade routes that linked the Levant, Mesopotamia, and the Arabian Gulf.

The preservation and study of Al-Ula's heritage contributes to our understanding of ancient civilizations including the Nabataeans, Dedanites, and later Roman presence in the region. Its inclusion in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire (ID: 25193) and various classical geographic databases underscores its importance in understanding the historical geography of the Roman Near East. As Saudi Arabia develops its tourism sector, Al-Ula represents a unique opportunity to showcase the kingdom's ancient history alongside its more recent Islamic heritage.

## Notable For

- **Ancient Rock-Cut Tombs**: Home to Qasr al-Farid, an ancient mansion and tomb dating to approximately 100 CE, representing exceptional Nabataean-era architecture
- **Historical Identification**: Believed to be the location of the ancient city of Dedan, referenced in classical and biblical sources
- **Desert Oasis**: Functions as an isolated area of vegetation in the desert, demonstrating sustainable human settlement in arid conditions
- **Multi-Lingual Documentation**: Wikipedia coverage in 30 languages reflects its international historical significance
- **Roman Empire Connection**: Listed in the Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire, indicating its role in the regional administrative and trade network
- **Geographical Distinction**: Located at an elevation of 692 meters in northwestern Saudi Arabia, distinct from the coastal and central regions
- **Comprehensive Identifier Coverage**: Extensively documented across international authority files including GND, VIAF, IDREF, Geonames, Pleiades, and Trismegistos

## Body

### Geography and Location

Al-Ula is situated in the northwestern region of Saudi Arabia, specifically within Medina Province. The city occupies coordinates of 26.6082971°N latitude and 37.922708°E longitude, with an alternative coordinate reading of 26.60853°N, 37.92316°E documented in geographic databases. The settlement sits at an elevation of approximately 692 meters above sea level, situated in a desert environment that nonetheless supports vegetation through its oasis characteristics. This geographic positioning places Al-Ula along historical trade routes connecting various regions of the ancient Near East.

The city's classification as an oasis—an isolated area of vegetation in a desert—represents one of its defining characteristics. This ecological phenomenon has supported human settlement in an otherwise arid region throughout history, making Al-Ula a crucial waypoint for travelers and traders crossing the Arabian Peninsula.

### Demographics and Population

According to the 2010 census data, Al-Ula had a total population of 32,413 residents. The population was divided between 25,808 Saudi nationals and 6,605 expatriate residents, indicating a diverse community that includes both indigenous inhabitants and foreign workers. This demographic composition reflects the broader patterns of population distribution in Saudi Arabia's smaller cities and towns.

### Historical Significance

Al-Ula is historically identified with the ancient city of Dedan, a settlement of considerable importance in classical and biblical sources. This identification is reflected in multiple authority files, including the GND (Gemeinsame Normdatei) entry which associates the location with Dedan. The city's ancient heritage includes the construction of Qasr al-Farid, an ancient mansion and tomb dating to approximately 100 CE, representing the architectural achievements of the Nabataean period or related cultures of the region.

The area contains numerous archaeological features, including the distinctive Jabal Al-Fil (Elephant Rock), a natural rock formation that has become one of the region's most recognizable landmarks. These archaeological and geological features have attracted scholarly attention and continue to be studied for their historical and cultural value.

### Administrative and Cultural Classification

Al-Ula is classified as both a city (large human settlement) and an oasis, reflecting its dual nature as an urban center situated within an ecological oasis. The city serves as an administrative center within Medina Province, one of the thirteen provinces of Saudi Arabia. The native name العلا (Al-Ula) represents the local designation for the settlement.

The city's cultural and historical importance is evidenced by its extensive documentation across international authority systems. The Dewey Decimal Classification system assigns it the code 2--538, categorizing it within library classifications for Arabian geography and history.

### International Documentation and Identifiers

Al-Ula is extensively documented across numerous international authority files and geographic databases, reflecting its historical significance and the need for precise identification in scholarly and administrative contexts. The Global Nature Database (GND) assigns the identifier 7521752-1, associated with the historical name Dedan. The Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) provides two identifiers—126802727 and 239674641—facilitating international cataloging and research.

Additional identifiers include the IDREF ID (096194073), Geonames ID (108841), Freebase ID (/m/027798b), Pleiades ID (814671), Topostext Place ID (266379UDed), Trismegistos Geo ID (16868), GNS Unique Feature ID (-3092572), Digital Atlas of the Roman Empire ID (25193), Encyclopaedia Britannica Online ID (place/Al-Ula), FactGrid Item ID (Filino), Who's On First ID (1209820349), and Pactols Thesaurus ID (pcrtviEAvvDThR).

### Visual Documentation

The city has been documented visually through multiple media. The primary image, "Al_Ula_old_town,_Saudi_Arabia_2011.jpg," is available on Wikimedia Commons, depicting the historic town architecture. The page banner image, "Al-Ula_Old_Town_2021_Wikivoyage_banner.jpg," appears on travel and geographic information platforms. The Commons category "Al-'Ula" aggregates media related to the location across the Wikimedia projects.

### Linguistic Coverage

Al-Ula has been documented in Wikipedia articles across 30 languages, demonstrating its international recognition and the interest it generates among scholars, researchers, and general audiences worldwide. The languages range from Arabic (the primary language of the region) to Chinese (including Cantonese), covering major world languages and regional variants. This extensive multilingual coverage facilitates access to information about Al-Ula for diverse global audiences and reflects the city's significance in multiple cultural and academic contexts.

## References

1. GeoNames
2. Integrated Authority File
3. [Source](https://d-nb.info/gnd/7521752-1/about/lds)
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. [تعداد السكان والمساكن. General Authority for Statistics](https://www.stats.gov.sa/ar/13)