Khashm Zubaydah and Faisal’s Finger, Riyadh

Khashm Zubaydah and Faisal’s Finger

The site of Edge of the World on the north west of Riyadh has become a popular destination among Riyadh residents thanks to its green wadi and impressive cliffs located on the Tuwaiq escarpment which is one of the most prominent natural features of Saudi Arabia as it spreads over 1 000 kilometers from the province of Najran on the south up to Qassim in the north.

Accessible directly from the Jeddah Highway, Faisa’sl Finger is located to the west of Riyadh and is also known as Qadmat Al Saqtah. It is part of the Tuwaiq Escarpment that is home to the popular tourist destination the Edge of the world. This 70 meters high natural sandstone pillar, extending 200 meters above the plains of the Jibal Tuwaiq, is often overshadowed by its neighboring attraction, but is slowly becoming more popular among explorers and tourists.

The Landscape and Attractions

It would take you around 30 minutes of off-roading to get to the base of Faisal’s Finger. Make sure that you take a 4 wheel drive because the dirt roads can be quite challenging to drive on, and the last thing you want is for your car to break down in the middle of the hot desert.

Once you get to your destination you have two options, you can either drive around the base of the site and enjoy the view of the towering cliff from down there or you can hike up and enjoy the panoramic view of the desert from the top of the sandstone tower. The hike isn’t too long, however, as you get closer to the top, the path starts becoming more rocky and brittle, so you need to make sure that you are wearing your best hiking shoes and take extreme caution as it can be very dangerous due to the large drops.

Faisal’s Finger is a wonderful place for long walks, mountain biking, and watching the sunset from the top of the cliff. Plus you also get the chance to swing by other nearby attractions like the Edge of the world and Khashm Zubaydah.