Face Rock is a sandstone outcrop that looks like a human head in profile, gazing out over the desert. It stands among the monumental Nabataean tombs of Hegra, next to Jabal AlAhmar, in AlUla in north-western Saudi Arabia.
Because Hegra can only be visited on an organised tour, Face Rock is usually seen as part of a Hegra visit rather than as a stop on its own.
Plan your visit to Face Rock
- Entry: via Hegra tours, from SAR 95
- Tour times vary by season
- Time needed: 2–3 hours (Hegra tour)
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History of Face Rock
Face Rock is a natural formation, shaped by wind and erosion. Its setting is historic: Hegra (also known as Mada’in Salih) was the Nabataeans’ main city in the south of their kingdom, best known for more than 110 tombs carved into sandstone outcrops, many of them in the 1st century BCE and 1st century CE.
In 2008 Hegra became Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its tombs, inscriptions and rock formations, including Face Rock, now draw visitors from around the world.
Attractions at Face Rock
- Face Rock: the head-shaped profile near Jabal AlAhmar, at its best in low sunlight.
- Jabal AlAhmar: a red sandstone outcrop with carved Nabataean tombs, one of the stops on Hegra tours.
- Tomb of Lihyan son of Kuza (Qasr AlFarid): Hegra’s famous free-standing tomb, carved from a single rock.
- Jabal Ithlib: a ceremonial area with the rock-cut hall known as the Diwan.
- Jabal AlBanat: a cluster of finely decorated tomb facades.
Things to Do at Face Rock
- Join a Hegra tour: coach and premium 4×4 tours stop at Jabal AlAhmar; ask your guide to point out Face Rock.
- Photograph at golden hour: sunrise and sunset make the sandstone glow and sharpen the profile.
- Respect the site: stay on marked paths and don’t climb the tombs or touch inscriptions.
Face Rock – Entry Eligibility and Open Timings
Self-driving inside Hegra is not allowed, so you see Face Rock on an official tour. The Hegra Day Tour costs from SAR 95 per person, and a private Premium Tour in a 4×4 is also available. Tour numbers are limited each day, so book ahead. Tour times vary by season: check the official Experience AlUla Hegra page for current schedules.
Tickets and tours for Face Rock
- Hegra guided tour: tour with entry to Hegra on Klook
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How Long to Spend at Face Rock
Allow 2–3 hours for a Hegra tour, which covers Face Rock’s area along with the main tomb groups. Add travel time from AlUla town.
How to Get There
- By air: fly to AlUla International Airport (ULH), which has domestic flights from Riyadh and Jeddah, among others. There is no shared transfer link here, so arrange a taxi, hotel pick-up or rental car.
- To Hegra: Hegra lies north of AlUla town. Tours meet at Hegra South Gate (free parking), or you can park at Winter Park in AlUla and take a coach to the meeting point.
- By road: AlUla is roughly 3.5–4 hours’ drive from Medina.
Eateries Nearby Face Rock
There is no restaurant at Face Rock itself. Bring water, and eat in AlUla Old Town or the AlJadidah arts district before or after your tour.
Other Attractions Nearby Face Rock
- Dancing Rocks: twisted sandstone pillars in the Raggasat Valley.
- Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil): AlUla’s famous elephant-shaped rock arch.
- Dadan: the Lion Tombs of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms.
- AlUla Old Town: restored mud-brick lanes and a hilltop fort.
Before your trip
- Find hotels in AlUla: book early in the cooler October–March season, when demand is highest.
- Get a Saudi Arabia eSIM on Klook before you land, for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Face Rock is a sandstone profile of a human head beside Jabal AlAhmar in Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. You see it on a Hegra tour, ideally in the soft light of early morning or late afternoon.
Round out your trip with the Dancing Rocks and the Lion Tombs of Dadan.