Jabal Maqla - "The Real Mount Sinai"

While it is most commonly accepted that the Biblical Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb or Jabal Musa, is in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, there are religious scholars who claim the holy mountain is actually in Saudi Arabia. This belief is also part of the local folklore and you can find several sites associated with the Exodus. According to those who claim Mount Sinai is in Saudi Arabia, it is the mountain known as Jabal Maqla. It stands in the Jabal al-Lawz area at around 2300 metres above sea level, just south of that peak. Like its counterpart in Egypt, Jabal Maqla is a black “burnt” mountain surrounded by red granite ranges. At its foot are found what are believed to be the remains of the Altar of Moses and the 12 Pillars. Not far is a rock formation with inscriptions of horned animals, believed to be the Altar of the Golden Calf.

The peak of Jabal Maqla is not visible from the store, even if some people tell you the black peak you see is it. The actual peak can only be seen from a high saddle from where you also have a view of the peak of Jabal al-Lawz. To the high saddle and back takes around 3 hours in difficult terrain.

The hike in Google Maps

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