Sabils of King Abd al-Aziz on the Mecca-Jeddah road

The three sabils of King Abd al-Aziz on the road between Mecca and Jeddah, at Bi'r Umm al-Qurun, Hadda and Bi'r al-Maqtala, unlike older sabils still stand, which makes it possible to study their type and compare them with Ottoman sabils. ^{1 2}

Each is a rectangular trough with drinking openings under a vault, with a foundation inscription dated 1361 AH / 1942 over its face, a simple design suited to the climate and local materials: rough basalt, brick, lime, pottery and charcoal dust. ²

Al-Haddad reports Ghabbashi's view that their design follows the Ottoman sabils on the same road, such as those of Bi'r al-Hudaybiyya and Bi'r Umm al-Jud, perhaps by builders who had worked in the Ottoman period; the author nevertheless sees a new pattern in their roofing and inscriptions that gives them their own character despite their simplicity. ^{2 3} He adds that the sabil of al-Ma'abida has a large arched gateway crowning its face and five drinking openings. ²