The cliffs of The Edge of the World (Jebel Fihrayn) rise dramatically to an elevation of 1,131 metres above sea level, about 80 kilometres northwest of Riyadh. This unexpected geological wonder stands in the middle of the rocky desert and has earned its nickname because, from the top of the escarpment, you can look out over an uninterrupted horizon that seems to stretch endlessly into the distance. The cliffs form part of the much longer Tuwaiq Escarpment, with sheer drops of around 305 metres down to the ancient ocean bed below.
We were told that the route through Acacia Valley was closed, with the gate apparently opening only on Fridays and Saturdays. So, we decided to try an alternative route from Sadus Dam. It didn’t take long to realise this route was definitely not suitable for our truck. We therefore hired a local man with a small car for 200 SAR to take us closer to the cliffs.
The track was extremely rough, and in some sections it was almost impassable even for the small 2WD car. Nevertheless, we eventually reached an artificial barrier built by the local authorities about 4 kilometres from The Edge of the World, apparently to prevent vehicles from going any farther. Unfortunately, we damaged our truck there, breaking a wheel and damaging the front bumper, so we had no choice but to wait several hours for another vehicle to come and pick us up.
After this unsuccessful attempt, we were lucky enough to find another local driver the following day and finally made it to The Edge of the World. A high-clearance SUV is essential for this journey. You don’t necessarily need 4WD, but it would certainly help. You should also be comfortable driving on rough, rocky desert tracks with deep potholes, as puncturing a tyre is a very real possibility.
The drive from Sadus Dam took us around one hour, and surprisingly, we had almost continuous STC 4G coverage throughout the journey, with only a few short interruptions. The tracks and routes to The Edge of the World are constantly changing, so we strongly recommend hiring a local driver who knows the area and can choose the best route according to current conditions.
We have a few local driver contacts that we are happy to share. Supporting local drivers is also a great way to contribute to the small communities in this remote, economically disadvantaged region.
Parking location – The Edge of the World: 24.947341N 45.990906E