Sirwah

Sirwah (Ṣrwḥ, صرواح خولان Ṣirwāḥ Ḫawlān) was, after Ma'rib, the most important economical and political center of the Kingdom of Saba at the beginning of the 1st century BCE, on the Arabian Peninsula. Ṣirwāḥ was surrounded by a fortified wall. The city layout inside the oasis included a number of large buildings. It’s also a part of Khawlan.

The ruins of Ṣirwāḥ are 40 km W of Ma'rib. The town was well protected by its position in the mountains, but at the same time put limits on its development. As a result, Ṣirwāḥ quickly lost its position as a capital, which was taken over by Ma’rib, which was in an important economical center on the incense route. The town nevertheless remained an important center for the Sabaeans, as shown by the large number of temple buildings. It was also the site chosen by King Yada'il Dharih I to build an important temple to Almaqah in circa 700 BCE.

In 2023, along with other landmarks of the ancient Kingdom of Saba, Sirwah was designated a UNESCO World Heritage List.