South Wadi Al-Aqiq

–Urwah District. Near the Castle of Urwah–

Trail Overview


Location	South-west of Madinah. Inside of the city
Terrain	wadi (flat dirt trail on river bank)
Surface Type	Dirt and rocks (there is a paved walkway above the trail)
Difficulty Level	Easy
Trail Length	5 km
Elevation Gain	NA (flat trail)
Estimated Time	1 hour loop
Development Status	under development (construction is ongoing on the wadi path)
Accessibility	Easily accessible by taxi. Ample parking on street level. Paved walkway is wheelchair and stroller friendly
Seasonal Notes	Mud and flooding after heavy rain

Trail Description

Surrounded by a paved walkway, and dotted with children’s play structures and outdoor exercise equipment, this trail starts at an overlook and descends into a nicely landscaped dirt trail inside of the wadi (currently still under construction). A small stream flows through the wadi for most of the year. A water well, dating back to the time of Urwah bin al-Zubayr (peace be upon him), is currently being restored at one point along the trail.

Natural Features

Small stream
landscaped native plants
Birds and seasonally fish

Historical & Cultural Significance

Historical/Cultural Significance: This is the place where Urwah ibn Zubayr built his farm and castle.

Urwah was the son of al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam (radi Allahu Anhu), one of the closest companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was one of the 10 promised paradise. His son, Urwah ibn Zubayr is one of the Tabi‘un — the generation who followed the Sahaba. Urwah ibn Zubayr was known for his knowledge, piety, and leadership during the Umayyad period of Islamic history. He purchased the land in the Al-Aqiq Valley because of its rich soil, abundant water and location. Urwah lived in this castle and also offered it as a resting place for travelers.

The castle was made of volcanic stones with clay and plaster. It contains three courtyards surrounded by rooms, and importantly, two wells — one inside the castle and another outside. These wells provided fresh water to the local people and also the pilgrims who would come and go from Madinah.It is currently being restored by the Saudi authorities.

Religious Significance (if applicable)

A Trail in the “blessed Valley”

There is a hadith reported by Umar ibn Alkhattab that the angel Gabriel, peace be upon him, came to the Prophet while he was on his way to Makkah to perform Hajj, and said to him, “Pray in this blessed valley, and say: ‘Umrah and Hajj.” عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِوَادِي الْعَقِيقِ يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ أَتَانِي اللَّيْلَةَ آتٍ مِنْ رَبِّي فَقَالَ صَلِّ فِي هَذَا الْوَادِي الْمُبَارَكِ وَقُلْ عُمْرَةً فِي حَجَّةٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

The Aqiq Valley starts to the north of Madinah, passes nearby masjid Qiblatain and keeps going through Abyar Ali to the south-west of Madinah. 4 or 5 years ago, the Madinah Development authority created the first walking trail in the Aqiq valley nearby masjid Qibltain (see North Wadi Al-Aqiq trail)

Map & Navigation

Easily accessible by taxi
Ample street parking

Facilities & Amenities

Ample street parking
Children’s play structures
Exercise equipment parks for adults
Benches and outdoor seating
No public restrooms available (as of Jan 2026)
cafés or shops in walking distance

Photo Gallery

Trail Status & Updates

This trail has not been completed and is currently under construction. The dirt trail is open, but the landscaping is not complete. Due to construction, it can be dusty. There are plans to extend the trail further north under the bridge, but the extension is not open yet.

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