Hail

Hail sits between the Aja and Salma mountains on the southern edge of the Nafud, and it was the seat of the Al Rashid emirate that contested Najd with the Al Saud in the nineteenth century, as well as a station on the pilgrim route from Iraq. A'arif fort stands on a hill above the town, a mud-brick structure with a watchtower used historically to signal prayer times and the sighting of the new moon. The Qishlah is a very large mud-brick barracks of the 1940s with hundreds of rooms around courtyards. Barzan palace has largely gone. The old souq area and the surrounding date country, along with the rock art sites, fill out a stay.

What you actually see

• A'arif fort - the mud-brick fort on the hill above the town.
• The Qishlah - the large 1940s barracks with its courtyards.
• The old souqs - the market area of the town centre.
• The Aja mountains - the granite range on the city's western side.

When to go

November to March; Hail is hot in summer and can be cold at night in winter, with occasional frost. The date season in late summer brings activity to the markets. Weekday mornings suit the fort and Qishlah.

Honest expectations

Sites keep irregular hours and some have been closed for restoration for long periods. Interpretation is mainly in Arabic. The city itself is modern with the historic fabric reduced to a few buildings. It is the base for Jubbah and Shuwaymis rather than a destination alone.

Nearby

Jubbah lies northwest; Shuwaymis is southwest.