Musa Bin Nusayr Castle

Musa Bin Nusayr Castle, also known as AlUla Castle, is a historic castle located in AlUla Governorate, in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dating back to the sixth century BCE, it is one of the oldest structures in the ancient city of AlUla, situated along the fertile valley following the reign of various kingdoms and states. It was strategically built on an elevated location at the center of the houses of AlUla Old Town, which comprises nine hundred homes, with the purpose of protecting the residents and overseeing the main route of the pilgrimage caravans.

The name Musa Bin Nusayr Castle originates from the Arab commander Musa Bin Nusayr, who resided in it. Its location overlooked main routes of pilgrimage caravans. The castle can be accessed via a stone staircase with more than three hundred steps leading to the top, made from stones collected from the surrounding areas.

Musa Bin Nusayr Castle was built from hewn stone atop a small hill. It underwent several renovations over the centuries and consists of an outer wall surrounding the summit of the hill, featuring several observation and shooting openings.

The castle covers an area of approximately 180 m and rises about forty-five m above the old town. Water could be accessed by those within the castle from a well carved into the rock at the base of the hill. The castle has been restored and is now one of the main tourist attractions in AlUla Governorate, in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah Province.

Adjacent to Musa Bin Nusayr Castle, on the road connecting AlUla City to Hegra, lies the historic al-Izam Mosque. This mosque dates back to the Prophetic era, when the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), marked its Qiblah using bones during his journey to the Battle of Tabuk in 630.

In 2022, the Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Project for the Development of Historical Mosques announced, as part of its second phase, the development of al-Izam Mosque. The mosque spans an area of 773.34 m and accommodates 580 worshippers, after having previously been unused.

The Royal Commission for AlUla is working on the rehabilitation of Musa Bin Nusayr Castle under the supervision of experts in the field of archaeology. During the process, natural materials were used following traditional construction methods while preserving the architectural identity, in accordance with UNESCO principles and international standards for the conservation and restoration of archaeological sites and monuments.