Jabal Al-Qarah, Saudi Arabia—from a Local Tourist Spot and Cultural World Heritage to a Geoheritage Site of Possible Global Relevance

Jabal Al-Qarah, a Miocene-era mesa within Saudi Arabia's UNESCO-listed Al-Ahsa Oasis, emerges as a globally significant geoheritage site despite its initial omission from cultural heritage recognition. This flat-topped hill, composed of calcareous sandstones and mudstones, showcases non-karstic cave systems formed by mechanical erosion and subsurface flows, offering critical insights into slope development in layered geological successions. The site also features dramatic mass movements, such as strata collapses triggered by the denudation of underlying weaker layers, further underscoring its scientific value. Beyond its geological significance, Jabal Al-Qarah holds potential for geotourism, adding to the oasis's cultural and scenic appeal.

Sen, S., Migoń, P., Almusabeh, A., & Abouelresh, M. O. (2023). Jabal Al-Qarah, Saudi Arabia—from a Local Tourist Spot and Cultural World Heritage to a Geoheritage Site of Possible Global Relevance. Geoheritage, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12371-023-00879-w