Zubaidah Trail
Zubaidah Trail, also known as Al-Kufi Hajj Route, is a historical pilgrimage and trade route in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is the land route that connects Iraq to Makkah Al-Mukarramah and passes through five Saudi provinces: Northern Borders, Hail, Qassim, Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah, and Makkah Al-Mukarramah. It was used for trade by travelers since pre-Islamic times and later became a passage for pilgrims and visitors coming from Iraq and the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula to the two holy cities, Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
Zubaidah Trail before Islam
It was one of the well-known roads before Islam and gained importance as it connected the commercial urban centers of the northern and southern Arabian Peninsula. It was later used by Islamic armies on their way to Iraq for the first time after the emergence of Islam, during the caliphate of the Companion Omar Bin Al-Khattab, led by Saad Bin Abi Waqqas. As a result, several sites along the way emerged as main pilgrimage stations, including Al-Tha‘labiyyah, Zurud, Al-Sharaf, Al-Adhib, and Al-Qadisiyyah. The trail gained further importance after the caliphate's capital moved from Damascus in the Levant to Baghdad in Iraq.
During the Umayyad era, Zubaidah Trail experienced the highest traffic among historical pilgrimage and trade routes, as it served as the link between the state's capital in Baghdad and the holy sites in Makkah Al-Mukarramah and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.
Zubaidah Trail maintenance
The trail received special attention, with some parts being paved with stones, mountainous and rugged areas leveled, and water sources provided along the way. It was marked with signposts, beacons, and torches to help travelers navigate distances and travel safely day and night. Rest stops and stations were established along the route for travelers, with major archaeological sites such as Zubala, Al-Tha‘labiyyah, Fayd, Samira’, and Al-Rabadhah serving as large towns and key stops.
Route of Zubaidah Trail
Geographically, the trail crosses plains, rugged terrains, and deserts before reaching Hejaz Mountains, passing through narrow and deep valleys. Its length within Saudi Arabia is approximately 1,400 km, covering 89 percent of its total length of 1,571 km. The route begins from Al-‘Aqabah Station in the north and ends in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.
Naming of Zubaidah Trail
The name Zubaidah Trail is derived from a water spring in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, ordered to be dug by Zubaidah Bint Jaafar, the wife of Caliph Harun Al-Rashid, which contributed to increasing traffic along the route. The remnants of Ain Zubaidah and its feeder canals are still present along the trail and are overseen by the General Authority for Awqaf in Saudi Arabia.
Zubaidah Trail in the Modern Era
Zubaidah Trail represents a historical landmark that reflects a distinctive architectural style of Islamic architecture in the Arabian Peninsula. Archaeological excavations in Fayd Archaeological City, located on the trail, revealed a detailed network of wells, springs, water canals, and reservoirs, in addition to fortified palaces, houses, dwellings, mosques, and roads. Saudi Arabia has given great attention to the trail, recognizing it as a historical and cultural heritage.