AlUla’s Ancient Scripts Come Alive After Dark at Ikmah
AlUla – Under the vast desert sky of northwest Saudi Arabia, Ikmah Mountain is taking visitors on a rare journey into the written memories of ancient civilizations through a nighttime cultural experience that blends history, storytelling, and hands-on learning.
Also known as Jabal Ikmah, the site lies near the ancient city of Dadan and has long been regarded as one of AlUla’s most significant archaeological landmarks, preserving hundreds of inscriptions carved into sandstone canyon walls thousands of years ago.
Now activated as part of AlUla’s winter cultural season, Ikmah is being reimagined after sunset, allowing visitors to explore its heritage in an atmospheric setting illuminated by candlelight and guided narratives.
Often described as an open-air library, the mountain hosts inscriptions written primarily in Dadanitic and Lihyanite scripts, offering rare insight into the social, religious, and political life of early Arabian kingdoms.
These ancient carvings once recorded religious offerings, laws, names of rulers, and moments of daily life, reflecting AlUla’s role as a major crossroads for trade, belief, and culture long before the Nabataean era.
The nighttime experience introduces guests to the world of ancient scribes, welcoming them with traditional hospitality before guiding them through a carefully curated journey across the gorge.
Visitors are divided into small groups, allowing some to explore the canyon while others learn how ancient inscriptions were carved, using replicas of traditional tools on stone blocks they can take home.
The elevated gorge pathway is softly lit with candles, creating a contemplative atmosphere that encourages visitors to slow down and absorb the surroundings while learning about the people who once passed through this valley.
Guides dressed in historical attire narrate stories in poetic language, explaining how Ikmah once served as a resting point for travelers who brought their animals, shared stories, and found water along ancient routes.
Storytelling emerges as a central theme of the experience, reflecting how oral tradition and written expression worked together to preserve knowledge and identity over generations.
As the two groups reunite, guests are invited to gather, rest, and enjoy dates, tea, and light refreshments, echoing the communal traditions that once defined life in this region.
Though the format is modern, the essence of the experience is deeply rooted in ancient customs, emphasizing human connection, shared history, and cultural continuity.
Local guides play a vital role in bringing Ikmah’s past to life, bridging generations by sharing stories that were nearly forgotten until archaeological discoveries brought them back into public awareness.
For many guides, the project is also a personal journey of rediscovery, offering an opportunity to reconnect with ancestral heritage and pass that knowledge on to visitors from around the world.
Learning about the ancient history of AlUla has been transformative for those involved, revealing layers of identity and belonging that extend far beyond contemporary narratives.
The experience reflects a broader effort to preserve and present Saudi Arabia’s pre-Islamic history in ways that are respectful, immersive, and accessible to global audiences.
Ikmah After Dark demonstrates how heritage sites can be activated without disturbing their integrity, using light, storytelling, and education rather than heavy infrastructure.
As AlUla continues to position itself as a global cultural destination, initiatives like this highlight the region’s commitment to safeguarding history while inviting meaningful engagement.
The ancient scripts of Ikmah, once silent on canyon walls, are now speaking again, reminding visitors that history is not only something to observe, but something to experience.
