Umm al-Qulban

Umm al-Qulban lies among the sands north of Ha'il, near the village of Qina. The Nafud surrounds it on three sides, but fresh water from its wells supports palms, fruit trees and fields. Local tradition tells of a shepherd who uncovered an old well concealed beneath sand and vegetation, followed by the discovery of others. Their water gave the settlement its name and made cultivation possible beside the dunes.