AlUla, Muharram 29, 1448 AH, corresponding to July 14, 2026 AD, SPA — The rocks of AlUla Governorate constitute a natural record spanning millions of years, as their formations preserve the story of the Earth, while their surfaces document the traces of humans and successive civilizations, in a scene that combines geological heritage and historical depth. AlUla is considered one of the most prominent geological destinations in the Kingdom, with its towering mountains, valleys, and rock formations shaped by natural factors over millions of years, creating exceptional terrain that has made it a destination for researchers, geologists, photographers, and nature enthusiasts. This coincides with the International Day of Rocks, observed on July 13 each year, which aims to highlight the importance of rocks and geological formations in understanding Earth's history, their scientific and cultural value, and their role in documenting the evolution of environments and the succession of civilizations through the ages. AlUla's rocks were not merely natural landmarks but pages that preserved the traces of ancient civilizations, as Lihyanite, Dadanitic, Nabataean, Thamudic, and early Islamic inscriptions spread across their surfaces, documenting aspects of social, economic, and religious life and affirming AlUla's status as a major station on ancient trade routes. Humans excelled in utilizing rocks to construct timeless architectural monuments, led by the Hegra site, the first Saudi site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, where tombs and facades were carved into the sandstone mountains with geometric precision and architectural skill that reflected the advancement of the Nabataean civilization in the arts of architecture and sculpture. AlUla hosts a number of famous rock formations, most notably the Elephant Rock, which was shaped by erosion factors over millions of years until it took the form of a giant elephant, becoming one of the most prominent natural icons in the governorate and a destination for visitors and photographers from around the world. The rock layers and formations reveal the geological stages and environmental and climatic transformations that the region witnessed, which contributed to shaping its terrain and creating an environment that helped human settlement and the flourishing of civilizations. The rocks of AlUla tell the story of both nature and humanity, keeping the governorate an open book whose pages are inscribed on rock, preserving millions of years of Earth's and civilizations' history. // End // 21:30 T M 0201