If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
The Hima Wells are a cluster of ancient freshwater wells in the Najran region, part of the UNESCO-listed Ḥimā Cultural Area on a historic Arabian caravan route.
The conservation focus at Hima is on safeguarding the original wells and the surrounding archaeological landscape while making the site safer to visit. Because the wells are active heritage features within a wider rock-art and inscription landscape, interventions prioritize protection, monitoring, and reversible safety measures over heavy alteration.
Work has included adding reversible above-ground walling and paths around Bi’r Ḥimā to improve safety while keeping the wells’ original location, width, and depth intact. Management is supported by formal protection, a 2018 Management Plan and Tourism Management Plan, and systematic site recording (maps and consistent records) to guide monitoring and conservation decision-making.
Hima preserves an exceptional record of human movement, communication, and daily life across millennia—rock art and inscriptions spanning many scripts, alongside wells that are described as dating back at least 3,000 years and still producing fresh water. Protecting the wells helps protect the wider desert cultural landscape and the integrity of a World Heritage site for future research and public understanding.
If you are planning a conservation or restoration project and want expert guidance, reach out to start the conversation.
