Riyadh, October (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 17 اكتوبر 2025ء) According to the Royal Commission for AlUla, Dadan served as the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms during the first millennium BC, featuring major garrisons, community groups, and bustling centers for agricultural and commercial activities. Dadan is also associated with the legacy of the Nabataean civilization, which constructed the monumental site of Hegra, located 22 km away.
The name Qurh emerged later, evolving into the main city within Wadi Al-Qura. Qurh flourished particularly during the Islamic era, with the historian Al-Muqaddasi describing it as the second city in the Hijaz after Makkah, a testament to its significant commercial and urban status.
These Names carry deep cultural and civilizational weight: Dadan was a key political and cultural center in the ancient world, while Qurh was a prominent commercial hub and famed market for pre-Islamic Arabs. The current name, AlUla, emerged after Qurh and Wadi Al-Qura became obsolete, and is linked to its elevated position above sea level, as noted by the historian Yaqut Al-Hamawi.
