AlUla, August (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 26 أغسطس 2025ء) The documentary is the second production under the three-year partnership between RCU and National Geographic following the release of a first documentary about the Kingdom of Dadan.
“Lost Treasures of Arabia: The Nabataean Kingdom” highlights the Nabataean civilization, which flourished in northwest Arabia during the reign of King Aretas IV (1st century BC to 1st century AD). The film showcases the Nabataeans’ strategic acumen and their ability to capitalize on a unique geographic location at the crossroads of cultures and trade routes, transforming challenges into opportunities. The production features live re-enactments and testimonies from Saudi and international archaeologists who have spent years studying Hegra, the first Saudi site inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, along with insights from RCU experts who continue to lead research and excavations to uncover the secrets of this ancient kingdom.
The documentary also sheds light on Nabataean ingenuity in developing advanced water management systems, including meticulously carved channels to collect rainwater, reservoirs for storage, and an elaborate pipeline network in Petra extending seven kilometers with precise gradients, in addition to dams built to protect cities from floods. It further presents the role of women in Nabataean society through RCU’s “Recreating the Face of Hinat” project, which reconstructed the features of a wealthy Nabataean woman from Hegra some 2,000 years ago, based on inscriptions and skeletal remains. This reflects the significant role of women in property ownership and family and community affairs. The film concludes by exploring various hypotheses surrounding the decline of the Nabataean Kingdom.
