Qaryat al-Faw

The Cultural Landscape of Al-Faw Archaeological Area
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Bronze head from Al-Faw
LocationSaudi Arabia
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (v)
Reference1712
Inscription2024 (46th Session)
Area4,847.73 ha (11,979.0 acres)
Buffer zone27,548.33 ha (68,073.4 acres)
Coordinates19°45′53.7″N 45°09′48.2″E / 19.764917°N 45.163389°E / 19.764917; 45.163389
Qaryat al-Faw is located in Saudi Arabia
Qaryat al-Faw
Location of Qaryat al-Faw in Saudi Arabia
Qaryat al-Faw is located in West and Central Asia
Qaryat al-Faw
Qaryat al-Faw (West and Central Asia)

Qaryat Al Faw (Arabic: قرية الفاو) was the capital of the first Kindah kingdom. It is located about 100 km south of Wadi ad-Dawasir, and about 700 km southwest of Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. The Al Faw archeological site reveals various features such as residential houses, markets, roads, cemeteries, temples, and water wells.[1]

It is home to a 1st century BC Old Arabic inscription written in the Ancient South Arabian script which is one of the oldest of its kind in South Arabia.[2]

  1. ^ "Qaryat Al Faw". Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  2. ^ "A First Century BC Arabic Inscription In Musnad Script At Qaryat Al-Faw". Retrieved 13 November 2022.