Saar Archaeological Site
A well-preserved Dilmun town plan with a temple, streets and hundreds of burials.
Updated 3 September 2026
Saar is the clearest surviving town plan of the Dilmun period, excavated by a British team from the 1990s: a main street running through the settlement with houses along it, a temple at one end and a large burial field beside it holding hundreds of graves. The houses are laid out to a repeated pattern, which makes the ordinary domestic arrangement of a Bronze Age Gulf town readable in a way it rarely is.
What's there
- The street plan - a main road with houses ranged along it.
- The temple - the structure at the end of the settlement.
- The burial field - hundreds of graves beside the town.
- The repeated house form - a standard domestic layout across the settlement.
When to go
November to March is the comfortable season. Late afternoon light shows the wall lines best. Summer heat on the open site is severe.
Before you go
The remains are low walls and require some background to appreciate. Interpretation on site is minimal and the visitor building has been closed at times. There is no shade.
Nearby
Diraz is north, and the Dilmun Burial Mounds are south.
What to pack for Saar Archaeological Site
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Modest clothing - Shoulders and knees covered - the single most common requirement. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A scarf or shawl - To cover the head or shoulders on entry; women especially at mosques. Find on Amazon
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