Al Ula is one of the important urban areas in Arabian Peninsula. According to studies conducted by historians and archaeologists, it has an ancient history date back to the sixth century BC. Al-Ula was known in the ancient manuscripts and works of Dedan. The inscriptions and writings discovered in Al-Ula indicate that a group of Arab tribes from the south and north of the Arabian Peninsula dwelt in Al-Ula and formed kingdoms throughout the ancient history. The most important name given to Al-Ula was the "Kingdom of Dedan" which is the oldest Kingdom created in the region. That name was given (according to Dr. Abu Al-Hassan Al-Ansari) based on a form that is contained in only one text as “??? “, which means “city ruler or Sheikh”. It is also said that the name “Dedan” was derived from the name of idol Wed, which was worshipped in the region from the first millennium BC. The name “Widd” means love and this love associated with city then became the "City of Love". Date back to sixth century BC the Kingdom of Dedan was governed by a royal regime. Its borders expanded to include Al-Ula and Madain Saleh in the north where Al-Ula occupied a strategic location on the main Incense Trade Route, which was among the most important commodities in the ancient world. Al-Ula played the role of mediator between civilizations of the ancient world such as India, Babylon, Levant and Egypt. Such importance and position continue until the end of the first century BC.

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