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Province of Saudi Arabia
Photo: Bill Strain from Kerrville, Texas, USA, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Al Jouf (also Al Jawf, Arabic: الجوف) is the historic northern oasis region of Saudi Arabia, stretching from the An Nafud desert in the south to the Jordan border in the north. Its modern capital is Sakaka, but its historic heart is the ancient oasis of Dumat al-Jandal — known to the Neo-Assyrians as Adummatu and described on the Esarhaddon Prism (673 BC) as "the strong city of the Arabians."
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Local Saudi heritage-tour operator based in Sakaka and licensed by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism. Runs small-group archaeology and culture tours of Dumat al-Jandal, Marid Castle, the Columns of Rajajil, Zabal Castle, the Umar ibn al-Khattab Mosque, the Al-Darʿi quarter, the Camel Site, and the wider King Salman Reserve. Tours in Arabic and English. Half-day, full-day, and multi-day itineraries.
By train
Saudi Arabia Railways' Riyadh–Qurayyat line stops at Sakaka and continues to Qurayyat. This is the most comfortable way to arrive from Riyadh — about 14 hours.
By car
From Riyadh, it is about 1,000 km on Highway 65 via Hail. From Tabuk, it is about 400 km. From the Jordanian border at Qurayyat, it is 220 km south to Sakaka.
A private car or a 4x4 is essential. There is no public transport between sites.
Read in the guideArticles and travel topics about Al Jouf and Saudi Arabia.
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