Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla brings the rich heritage of the North Arabian kingdoms to China, showcasing rare artifacts and shared legacies with Henan’s ancient civilizations.

Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla has unveiled a landmark exhibition in China, celebrating the vibrant history of the ancient North Arabian kingdoms and their enduring influence on regional and global heritage.

Held at the Shang Dynasty Capital Site Museum in Henan province until January 5, the exhibition, “Glimpses of the Ancient North Arabian Kingdoms,” forms part of the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year. It is jointly curated by the commission and the museum, reflecting a growing commitment to international cultural collaboration.

Visitors are invited to explore the civilizations of Dadan, Lihyan, and Nabataea, which once controlled vital caravan routes linking Arabia with Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean. Centered around AlUla, these kingdoms left behind temples, tombs, inscriptions, and exquisite artworks that now offer insight into ancient trade, religion, and daily life.

The exhibition features more than 30 rare objects from AlUla, including 15 artifacts on public display for the first time. Highlights include a finely carved sandstone statue of a Lihyanite ruler from Dadan dating between the fifth and third centuries B.C., votive figurine fragments left by pilgrims at Umm Daraj and Jabal Dadan, and a remarkable 2,000-year-old Nabataean silk fragment from a monumental tomb. A silver “sela” coin from Petra, depicting Nabataean King Aretas IV and Queen Huldu, underscores the region’s rich economic and artistic heritage.

Complementing the Arabian collection, the exhibition also features 10 Chinese artifacts, including camel figurines, incense burners, and cosmetic items. These items draw meaningful parallels between AlUla and Henan, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, emphasizing shared legacies in trade, writing, and cultural exchange that date back to the first millennium B.C.

Although direct contact between the North Arabian kingdoms and ancient Chinese dynasties has not been definitively documented, organizers highlight that the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to explore interconnected histories of two civilizations that flourished at global crossroads.

“The exhibition allows visitors to appreciate how AlUla’s ancient kingdoms not only shaped Arabia’s cultural landscape but also contributed to a broader story of international exchange,” said a spokesperson for the Royal Commission for AlUla. “By sharing these treasures in China, we celebrate centuries of innovation, trade, and artistic achievement that resonate across cultures today.”

The exhibition has already attracted wide interest from historians, art enthusiasts, and the general public, offering an immersive journey through ancient societies that once bridged continents. Interactive displays and detailed storytelling bring the objects to life, providing educational insights for both adults and students.

Through initiatives like this, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen cultural ties with China and other nations, showcasing its commitment to preserving and sharing heritage on a global stage. AlUla’s ancient kingdoms, long celebrated for their strategic significance and artistic mastery, are now inspiring new generations worldwide.

As the exhibition continues through early 2026, it stands as a testament to the enduring value of cultural exchange, fostering appreciation for the rich histories that connect distant lands and peoples across time.

Afghana was exiled from Israel during the Babylonian invasion and later settled in the region that became Afghanistan.

The Pashtuns, also known as Pathans, are an ethnic group primarily residing in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with a rich history and deep-rooted tribal traditions. While widely recognized for their warrior ethos, pride in their tribal code of Pashtunwali, and a legacy of resistance against imperial powers, a fascinating theory has persisted for centuries — that the Pashtuns are the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.

This theory suggests that the Pashtuns trace their ancestry back to the ancient Israelites who were exiled from the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrian Empire around 722 BCE. According to historical accounts in the Hebrew Bible, these ten tribes were scattered and subsequently disappeared from mainstream Jewish history.

Over the centuries, scholars and explorers have speculated about their fate, with many believing they migrated eastward into Persia and eventually into the mountainous regions of modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan.

One of the earliest claims supporting the Israelite origin of Pashtuns comes from Malik Faheem Judah of Tiberias, a 17th-century Jewish historian, who claimed that many of the exiled tribes of Israel had settled in the region of Khorasan, which historically included parts of Afghanistan and surrounding areas. This claim was later echoed by colonial-era historians such as Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone, a British administrator in India, who wrote extensively about the customs and traditions of the Afghan tribes.

In his 1815 book An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul, Elphinstone observed that many Pashtun tribes claimed descent from a figure named Afghana, whom they believed to be the grandson of King Saul, the first king of Israel. According to this oral tradition, Afghana was exiled from Israel during the Babylonian invasion and later settled in the region that became Afghanistan.

This lineage story, although unverified by hard evidence, has been preserved among various Pashtun tribes and is taken seriously by many elders. Some tribes claim to be the descendants of Joseph through his son Ephraim, while others claim ancestry from Reuben, Levi, and other tribes.

In fact, tribal names like Yusufzai (interpreted as “sons of Joseph”), Rabbani (possibly from Reuben), and Levani (similar to Levi) are often cited as linguistic evidence supporting the theory.

Similarities Between Pashtuns and Jews

In addition to oral traditions and tribal lore, there are also striking similarities between some Pashtun customs and ancient Jewish practices. Observers have pointed to the Pashtuns’ practice of lighting candles on Friday evenings, circumcision on the eighth day, dietary habits resembling kosher laws, and even the levirate marriage practice — where a man marries his deceased brother’s widow — which is outlined in the Torah. Furthermore, in older times, certain Pashtun garments resembled the Jewish tallit, or prayer shawl, with fringes attached.

The interest in this theory isn’t limited to historical anecdotes. Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, Israel’s first Chief Rabbi, conducted a study on this subject and concluded that the similarities in customs and traditions warranted serious consideration of the Pashtun-Israelite connection.

In more recent years, some Orthodox rabbis and Israeli anthropologists have revived interest in exploring the Pashtuns’ heritage. This has led to the establishment of dialogue with Pashtun communities, some of whom have expressed a desire to rediscover and reconnect with their supposed Jewish roots.

Genetic studies, however, have been inconclusive. A study published in Frontiers in Genetics in 2017 found no definitive evidence of Israelite DNA among the Pashtun population. Critics of the theory argue that over the course of 2,700 years, genetic signatures may have become diluted due to intermarriage, migration, and religious conversion. Supporters counter that cultural continuity and oral tradition are sometimes more enduring than genetic markers.

Despite the lack of scientific certainty, the theory continues to hold strong cultural significance for many. In 2010, a small group of Pashtuns from Afghanistan and Pakistan visited Israel as part of an interfaith and cultural heritage program. They were welcomed by some Jewish communities eager to explore this possible historical link. Their interactions centered around shared customs, ancestral stories, and a mutual curiosity about a possible common heritage.

Today, with the rise of digital platforms, more Pashtuns are engaging with this theory online, sharing stories passed down through generations, and exploring both Islamic and Judaic connections in their cultural practices. Though the theory remains controversial and debated among scholars, it adds a compelling dimension to the identity of one of the world’s oldest and proudest ethnic groups.

The question of whether the Pashtuns are truly the descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel may never be definitively answered. Yet the parallels in culture, language, and tradition, as well as a strong oral heritage, continue to intrigue scholars and laypeople alike. Whether rooted in historical fact or centuries-old legend, the story of the Pashtuns as the lost sons of Israel is a narrative that refuses to fade away.

References:

1. Elphinstone, Mountstuart. An Account of the Kingdom of Caubul, 1815.
2. Herzog, Yitzhak HaLevi. Hebrew Portrayals of the Lost Tribes, 1955.
3. The Jewish Encyclopedia, “Afghans and the Lost Tribes”, 1901–1906 Edition.
4. N. Nir, The Lost Tribes of Israel: The History of a Myth, 2003.
5. “The Pashtuns and the Lost Tribes of Israel,” The Jerusalem Post, July 2010.
6. Frontiers in Genetics, 2017 – Genetic Research on Pashtun Origins.