The Arabian Peninsula and Arab world in photos

[p(-)0ENiX]

@Marshmallow @Desert Fox @Armstrong

Pictures of Hatra, Iraq; initially thought to be an Assyrian settlement that was developed during the Seleucid reign:

Hatra represents an amalgamation of Hellenic & local cultures & influences.

 

[Arabian Legend]

Interesting.

 

[al-Hasani]

Interesting.

Hatra is also a World UNESCO Heritage Site today.

It was also the capital of the Kingdom of Araba.

Saudi Arabia:

من جازان by Ahmed Madkhali, on Flickr


مدرجات الجبال بمنطقة جازان by Saad Alkhorsan, on Flickr


من رجال جزر فرسان by owyed alowyed, on Flickr


الباحة by Albashery, on Flickr


HDR- Dense jungle by Adel Hilal عادل الهلال, on Flickr

 

[Arabian Legend]

Nice photos..

 

[al-Hasani]

Yemen:

Another Galapagos
Located off the coast of Yemen in the Indian Ocean, the island of Socotra contains some of the world's most astonishing and unique plant forms. More than a third of the 800 or so species on the island are found nowhere else on earth.


Dragon's Blood Tree
Found only on the island's plateaus, this plant was christened the dragon's blood tree by traders who believed that its crimson sap was actual dragon's blood with medicinal properties.


Populace
Because the island belongs to Yemen, a country with very strict regulations regarding travel, Socotra draws very few tourists. Even the most adventurous travelers are deterred by the country's association with radical Islam.


The Socotran Fig
This sample of Dorstenia gigas has grown against a limestone rock face. The plant supposedly does not need soil to grow.


Granite Peaks
The island was recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a Natural World Heritage Site in July 2008.


Lush
In ancient times, Socotra's various endemic aloes, like Aloe perryi, above, were used in medicines and for cosmetics.


Cave
Monsoon rains have cut through the island's limestone to create an elaborate network of gigantic caves, some of which can be explored.


Desert Rose Tree
The cliff-dwelling Adenium obesum has shiny, rubbery bark, which thins gradually and splits into skeletal branches, from whose tips fragile pink flowers erupt.


Matrix
Despite Socotra's isolation, its plant life is under threat from human encroachment, imported flora and fauna and, some scientists say, climate change. Alarmingly, recent reports suggest there have been no new natural saplings of the dragon's blood tree.


Potential
Strapped for cash and aware of the island's uniqueness, Yemeni authorities are working to find ways to increase eco-tourism to Socotra. "Socotra is the safest island in Yemen," says a tourism official. "We have never had any security issues there. People think Yemen is dangerous, but hearing the news is not the same as seeing for yourself."

The Alien Beauty of Socotra
- Photo Essays - TIME​

 

[al-Hasani]

Yemen:

Sana'a which is one of the oldest cities on the planet and one of the highest located capitals in the world (2250 meters of altitude). The big old city is a World UNESCO Heritage Site and the architecture of the city makes it a unique ancient city. It also has one of the most pleasant climates on the planet.

 

[al-Hasani]

Yemen:

Sana'a continued:


Sanaa by night - Yemen by Eric Lafforgue, on Flickr


Sanaa panorama at sunset - Yemen by Eric Lafforgue, on Flickr


Yemen - Blue hour over Historical and Traditional City Center of Sanaa by © Lucie Debelkova / www.luciedebelkova.com, on Flickr


Yemen - Sunrise at Sanaa by © Lucie Debelkova / www.luciedebelkova.com, on Flickr


Yemen - Sana - San'a - Sanaa - Sana'a - The most fascinating capital in the Arab world by © Lucie Debelkova / www.luciedebelkova.com, on Flickr


Old Town Sanaa - Yemen 49 by Richard Messenger, on Flickr

 

[al-Hasani]

Oman:

Bat Tomb from the 3rd millennium BC​

 

[al-Hasani]

Bahrain:

Dilmun ruins on the bottom left and modern Manama in the background

​

 

[al-Hasani]

Kuwait:

 

[al-Hasani]

Kuwait:

The Market Mosque in Souq al Mubarakiyah. Built in 1794.

Bahrain:

 

[al-Hasani]

Qatar:

Qatar by ♥ЗתōōdҰ, on Flickr

Zubarah Fort

Umm Slal

Alkoot Fort


Souq Waqif (The restored historical heart of Doha)

Daytime at Old Souq Waqif by Gintoks, on Flickr

 

[al-Hasani]

Kuwait:

(Traditional Kuwaiti house/villa)

 

[al-Hasani]

Kuwait:

Al-Ghanim Palace which got destroyed during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Saddam actively tried to erase Kuwaiti history and destroyed a lot of historical structures and monuments and also looted the national archive which had one of the largest collections of Islamic art and heritage.

Qatar:

That's it for now.

P.S: I got TONS of photos of old Arabian/Arab architecture and pre-Islamic Arabian/Arab and Semitic artifacts from across the Arabian Peninsula. Probably as many photos as there are photos in this thread! It's a sight to behold. I will try to post some of them as I have been doing today but there are literary thousands of them so only a small portion will be posted here probably.

 

[al-Hasani]

Oman:

Ittin, Salalah, Dhofar by Shanfari.net, on Flickr

Salalah by subodh shetty, on Flickr

mazuna 2 by sureshthrissur, on Flickr

Al Hamra, Oman by monchoparis, on Flickr

Bahla by Wolfgang H, on Flickr

Sur - Oman by pascallemoine, on Flickr

Dhofar mountains, southern Oman by Arthur Anker, on Flickr

Infinity pool by CruisAir, on Flickr

Oman 09 by Toni.P, on Flickr

Oman 09 by Toni.P, on Flickr

The beaches and in general the coastlines of the Arabian Peninsula are some of the most beautiful in the world. By far the best in all of West Asia and probably also the best in the entire Arab world although the competition is big. No wonder that wealthy tourists from abroad are noticing countries such as Oman out there. Some of the resorts are simply amazing.

@Dr.Thrax

Bro, check this thread out and section. Syria has been covered a bit as well. Too bad that much of the ancient heritage has suffered due to that senseless conflict.