The Lost City of Ubar, one of the greatest secrets of Arab history
It is an ancient Arab city, also known as "the Atlantis of the Sands," "Iram of the Pillars," and "Shisr," which appears in history books and historical novels; it is the lost city of Ubar. It is one of the Middle East's greatest mysteries across the centuries, so much so that it has puzzled many archaeologists and explorers. Come together to get to know this mysterious city with a long history.
Show key points
- The lost city of Ubar, also known as "Atlantis of the Sands" and "Eram That Al-Bamad," is considered one of the Middle East's greatest historical mysteries.
- Believed to be built around 5,000 years ago by Shaddad bin Aad, Ubar was located in Dhofar, Oman, and was renowned for its towering architecture, fertile lands, and thriving trade.
- Ancient accounts describe Ubar as a majestic city with rivers and palaces, playing a major role in trade, especially in spices and oils.
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- According to religious tradition, Ubar was destroyed by a divine storm as punishment for its people's defiance of the Prophet Hud.
- Explorer Bertram Thomas searched for Ubar in 1930 using a balloon and guidance from local Bedouins but ultimately failed to find conclusive evidence.
- In 1940, Wilfred Thesiger discovered potential ruins in Shasr, yet his findings lacked definitive proof linking them to Ubar.
- A major research effort in 1992 led by Nicholas Clapp used modern satellite imagery and ancient maps, marking the most advanced attempt to locate the city.
History of the city of Ubar
Researchers date the construction of the city of Ubar to around 5,000 years ago. It played a prominent role in the past: the city was said to have been built by Shaddad ibn 'Ad and ruled by him for a long time in southern Oman, in the Dhofar Governorate, in an area known as Shisr. It is said to have taken nearly 300 years to build. The city was described as a magnificent place, with towering buildings and grand palaces, fertile land, and reportedly flowing fresh rivers. It was also a center of trade on the Arabian Peninsula, especially in spices and oils. Many assert that historical accounts still fail to capture the true splendor and grandeur of its buildings and natural features.
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The well-known story of the people of 'Ad is also linked to this region. According to tradition, they were an Arab people to whom God sent a prophet, but they refused to accept his message. As a result, divine wrath fell upon them: a powerful storm uprooted people and high-rise buildings and destroyed them utterly. The wind raged for seven nights until the city was completely destroyed, its landmarks hidden and forgotten, except for the Prophet Hud and those who believed with him. The people returned to idol worship, taking certain idols as their gods, and when Prophet Hud called them to worship God to avoid the punishment of the Day of Resurrection, they were described as foolish, false, and reckless. They remained immersed in their desires, tyranny, and disobedience until the punishment came.
Attempts to search for the city of Ubar
1. Explorer Bertram Thomas's attempt
In 1930 Bertram Thomas entered the Empty Quarter and began searching for the ruins of Ubar with the help of the Bedouins who lived in that area. Unfortunately, his attempts failed and he did not find the city, despite encountering some ruins and monuments that were not conclusive evidence of Ubar's location. He even used a balloon in his search, but to no avail. He died without realizing his dream. He wrote a book about his journey called Arabia Felix, in which he described what he had seen and experienced and expressed his deep sadness at not being able to find the city of Ubar.
2. Explorer Wilfred Thesiger's attempt
In 1940 Wilfred Thesiger found the remains of a well and a building he identified as a fortress in an area of the desert called Shisr, but he also failed to prove that these ruins belonged to the lost city. Thesiger's findings prompted a later exploration in 1948 that supported his observations, yet they did not provide definitive evidence linking the ruins to Ubar.
3. Nicholas Clapp's attempt in 1992
Clapp led a research mission in 1992 from Los Angeles, consisting of a number of archaeologists and historians. He built on prior studies and on reading the book Arabia Felix, and he was armed with a set of maps drawn by the Alexandrian geographer Claudius Ptolemy around 200 AD. He also used modern methods, most notably satellite imagery.