Database: Food in AlUla

This selection of pottery from Islamic times shows simple, everyday bowls and some finer pieces depicting animals—such as a bowl painted with a hare and a dish decorated with a fish and leafy sprays.

Since the earliest times of antiquity, the inhabitants of AlUla have enjoyed a rich and varied diet, largely foraged or produced locally. In the Oasis, this consisted of crops such as cereals and fruits, especially dates from palm trees, and eventually a wide variety of citrus. Alongside these came products from the herding of livestock such as sheep and goats, as well as camels. Hunting augmented the meat diet, for example gazelle and hare. Caravan trade further diversified the diet, introducing a wide range of products and different culinary practices. The presence of fish and shellfish from the Red Sea, for example, has even been documented.