
Saudi Arabia is a hub for adventure tourism, offering a wide variety of outdoor activities that attract adrenaline seekers and adventure lovers.
One of the prominent destinations for adventurers and caving enthusiasts is the Abu Al-Waul Cave, located in the Harrat Khaybar volcanic field, northeast of Madinah. Stretching over 5 kilometers, it is the longest basalt cave in Saudi Arabia. The cave attracts tourists and researchers alike, with its volcanic composition and unique geological features.
Given that cave tourism is one of the flourishing attractions in the Kingdom, the Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) has embarked on projects to rehabilitate and develop these caves and other tourist sites to enhance their geological and tourist potential.
Hassan Al-Rashidi, one of the cave exploration enthusiasts, told the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) that the Harrat Khaybar embraces several ancient caves, including Abu Al-Waul Cave. Al-Rashidi was among the SGS exploration team that discovered the cave.
The name of Abu Al-Waul Cave is derived from the Arabic word for ibex, due to the large number of ibex skeletons discovered inside the cave.
Furthermore, Al-Rashidi pointed to the tourism potential of Harrat Khaybar, owing to the large number of caves and volcanoes, which offer a unique opportunity to examine their geological formations and rock structures which date back to thousands of years ago.
Al-Rashidi added that he documents all his adventures and exploration journeys to serve as scientific reference for researchers and adventurers. This documentation includes the cave locations, types and access routes, in addition to preservation methods.