Fayd is the most convenient location of this TWHS as its on route between Hail and Riyadh. Also an important one, as it’s halfway to Mecca from Kufa. So we also decided to visit Fayd. The visitor experience has improved a lot since Martina and Ivan were there. While the 2 wells described in the first review are visible from the fence, the palace is actually the main site to visit.

A big visitor center was built in front of the entrance, where the local guide Saud and the security responsible Fayez received us with the fantastic Saudi hospitality we had experienced throughout the country.
The videos (with English subtitles), info boards and expositions give you an insight of the importance of Fayd and the this route as well as other relevant cultural site in the region. Saud guided us through every room, explaining the history of the Darb Zubaydah with passion.

The castle is not much more than a pile of rubble, but the remains of other parts are clearly visible. There is a big cistern, remains of the mosque, the outer wall and remains of rooms that were used as some kind of free hotel for the pilgrims. The whole site is still rather like a classical archaeological site and not a fake reconstruction. I hope it remains like this.

I am rather sceptic about the attempt to inscribe 3 different Hajj WHS, but at least a combined version should be inscribed and Fayd for sure is an important component of the Hajj routes.