TABUK — Visitors of Tayma Governorate Saturday witnessed a unique and unforgettable experience while seeing history being revived in a governorate that was known as one of the most important and oldest commercial centers in the world and a meeting point for the most important civilizations of the old east.

The Royal Commission for Al-Ula announced launching a project to activate top heritage sites in Tayma, including the historical Tayma oasis, renewing the old commercial center, restoring Al-Najim market, Hadaj Well, and Al-Rumman Palace, as part of the commission’s goals to maintain the cultural heritage sites.

This move would also enable the socio-economic development in Tayma through creating jobs and empowering small and medium size enterprises, in accordance with the goals and ambitions of the Saudi Vision 2030.

The initiative included the revival of the “Al-Najim market” with entrepreneurs, which is considered as the economic and commercial heart of Tayma. The project aims to promote heritage industries and small enterprises, especially the trade of artistic and local crafts products by increasing visitor numbers and boosting economic revenues.

Also, the Hadaj Well, located in the center of the oasis, has long served large numbers of residents and travelers, and Al-Rumman Palace, which dates back to 1919, was renovated and named after the Governor of Tayma, who built it at the time.

Tayma Governorate is located 200 kilometers northeast of Al-Ula Governorate, where it is one of the most important and oldest commercial centers in old trade routes, and it dates back some 90,000 years and is considered a museum of human heritage and creativity in trade and culture.

The earliest mention of Tayma dates back to Assyrian inscriptions, which described the oasis as a rich city of water wells.

Last week, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula launched the festival “Ancient Kingdoms”, which connects Al-Ula with the governorates of Tayma and Khaybar through diverse cultural and historical experiences.

The festival will be a link between the various historical sites in Tayma and Khaybar, fostering cultural experiences through stories dating back thousands of years, expressing ancient Arab civilizations and kingdoms, and connecting diverse cultures throughout history.

The commission’s “Al-Ula Moments” organizes the festival, which links the three historical oases of Al-Ula, Tayma and Khaybar through cultural experiences for visitors, and trips that highlight the unique identity and history of each site. — SPA