Ma’rib Ancient Historical Old City

Marib Governorate, Yemen

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Ma’rib Ancient Historical Old City, located in Marib Governorate of north-central Yemen, was the fortified capital of the ancient Kingdom of Sabaʾ (Sheba), a powerful pre-Islamic state famous for its control of the incense trade and for building the great Ma’rib Dam around 750 BCE, which created a fertile oasis and supported a prosperous civilization often called “the Paris of the ancient world”.

The site has been continuously inhabited since at least the first millennium BCE, with ruins including the impressive Barran Temple columns and other Sabaean structures, while much of the standing architecture in the old town is from more recent centuries and some houses are still occupied today.

Recognized for its cultural importance, the area containing the ancient city and associated landmarks is protected under Yemeni law and inscribed as part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Landmarks of the Ancient Kingdom of Saba, Marib” in 2023. The old city sits in a fertile oasis irrigated by the historic dam, blending ancient archaeological remains with a living town that preserves centuries of Yemeni heritage and memories of Saba’s legendary wealth and engineering.