Gallery
Description
Property Name: Ain Zubayda
Inventory No: 966-2-2
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2010-05-22
Country (State party): Saudi Arabia
Province: Makkah
Town: Makkah
Geographic coordinates: 21° 22′ 35″ N
39° 57′ 6″ E
Historic Period: Abbasid
Year of Construction: 831-802
Style: Abbasid
Original Use: Aqueduct
Current Use: Unused
Architect: Unknown
Significance
Located close to the Haram al-Sharif in Makkah, Ain Zubayda spring provides between 30 and 40 million gallons of water from groundwater wells, on an area of approximately 17km2. The revitalization of Ain
Zubayda cost SAR 69 million and was paid for by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz. There is a museum specific to the spring adjacent, as well as a garrison. Ain Zubayda was a charitable project undertaken by Zubaydah, Harun al-Rashid’s wife in the Abbasid period.
One of the most important historic sites in the Holy City and still existed since thousands of years to this day. Ain Zubaida archaeological site which extends from the high mountains of AlKr from Numan Valley near Taif until it ends in Mecca, Ain Zubaida had a significant impact in watering the people of Mecca and the pilgrims. The person who ordered for this project to be done was Zubaida Bint Ja’far ibn Mansur, the wife of the caliph Harun al-Rashid when she saw the need of Mecca and the pilgrims to water, despite the lack of skilled qualified Engineers and trained potential hands, but Mrs. Zubaida managed for the gigantic project with men dedicated to finish it through advanced technical methods and withdrawal water through long distance, which extends for thousands of kilometers and across the hills, mountains, valleys and deserts through channels and pumps with ease until it reaches the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Selection Criteria
i. to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius
ii. to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design
iii. to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared
iv. to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history
v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
The path still exists, but its water dried out. SCTA (Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities) and Makkah Municipality signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between the two organizations. According to the agreement, the Ain Zubaida water supply system would be developed.
References
الراشد، سعد عبدالعزيز : درب زبيدة (الرياض 1414هـ/ 1993م)
Commission of Tourism and Heritage