JEDDAH: Al-Hanateen dunes in northern Saudi Arabia once overlooked a historic trade route used by small caravans of merchants who preferred a safer, if more physically demanding, passage across the desert.
Located along the new Rafha-Hail road, about 160 km southwest of Rafha governorate, the towering dunes are among the region’s most prominent natural landmarks, combining striking desert scenery with links to the commercial history of northern Arabia.
Abdulrahman Al-Tuwaijri, a member of the Saudi Archaeological Society, said the dunes lie alongside the historical Western Trade Route, which followed the edge of the Nafud Desert from Turbah to Al-Hayaniyah, before crossing Al-Huzul, Al-Majamir and Al-Ruhaimi on its way to Kufa.
Although this route offered fewer sources of water along the way and was more difficult to cross, its distance from major roads made it relatively safer, he said, which meant it was a preferred option for smaller caravans and lone travelers.
In contrast, the eastern route, known as the Kufa Pilgrimage Road or the Zubaydah Trail, was more widely used because it offered abundant water sources and a clearly marked path. Pools, buildings and other facilities constructed along the way during the Abbasid era helped establish it as the principal passageway for large caravans.
