Fayd, one of Saudi Arabia's oldest historical and archaeological cities, is the major stop on the Iraqi pilgrimage route and is located east of the city of Hail, 120 kilometers distant. It is the third city on the ancient pilgrimage route after Kufa and Basra (Derb Zubaydah).
In addition to being a major stop on the Zubaydah trail and situated halfway between Mecca and Baghdad, it is a historical city situated to the southeast of the region of Hail. It is regarded as one of the historical, archaeological places of the area because its mountains contain historical inscriptions dating back to prehistoric times.It is situated on the Zubaydah trail, created by Harun al-wife, Rashid, which runs along the pilgrimage route between Baghdad and Mecca. The city is frequently visited by tourists and locals alike.A permit must be obtained from the General Authority for Tourism and Antiquities to access the full site.
• The Gallery
Visitors must first pass through the Fayd Museum, which is interesting to view because it contains objects from the historic stronghold and its surroundings, before entering the archaeological site. The abundance of the discovered artifacts, including millstones, diamonds, earthenware jars, ceramics, incense burners, coins, etc., is evidence of long-lasting and vigorous human activity. Aerial views of the principal structures of the ancient city are depicted in various photographs, along with some early Islamic inscriptions etched on nearby rocks by pilgrims and traders.
• Ancient Oasis City
Excavations at the archaeological site have uncovered an area with ovens once utilized by the Fayd inhabitants.Their number and proximity to the fortress provide information on the size of the old city. According to some estimates, the ancient oasis city of Fayd formerly housed over 1000 people who served as a supply hub for merchants and pilgrims between Baghdad and Makkah.
Large cisterns that collected water from the adjacent Harrat Umm Hurruj toward the oasis are one of Fayd's most well-known characteristics. The one to the north of the fort is about 2 meters deep and 22 meters broad. The old mosque, located to the south of the excavations, was once used for prayer by the people of Fayd and by pilgrims and traders from the Muslim Empire's east for at least five centuries.
• The Fortress
The people of the oasis constructed great defenses comprised of two concentric compounds made of black basalt extracted from the neighboring lava fields of the Harrat Umm Al-Hurruj to defend the prosperity of Fayd, inspired jealousy in the surrounding populations. With ten towers and a length of 750 meters, the most outside compound shielded a populated region.
The major military stronghold's 350-meter-long, seven-meter-high walls were located in the central compound. To convey to visitors the significance of the fortified site of Fayd, those historic walls were recently rebuilt.The excavations revealed the walls and pillars of what were once the homes and possibly the stores of the residents of the former oasis of Fayd on the southern side of the fort, between the two compound walls.
Duration RequiredSoutheast Hail, Ha'Il, Saudi Arabia
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