Jabal Abu Makhruq
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Jabal Abu Makhruq
| photo = File:Jabal Abu Makhruq Riyadh, 2024.jpeg
| photo_caption = Jabal Abu Makhruq, 2024
| location = Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| native_name = {{langx|ar| جبل أبو مخروق}}
| other_name = Jabal Kharba
Camel's Eye
| coordinates = {{Coord|24|40|24|N|46|43|32|E|type:landmark_region:SA-ES|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m = 50
}}Jabal Abu Makhruq ({{langx|ar|جبل أبو مخروق}}), or in Najdi vernacular pronunciation as Jabal Abo Makhrog and popularly known as Camel's Eye ({{Langx|ar|عين الجمل}}), is a conical limestone hill with a natural arch through it in the ad-Dubbat neighborhood of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-21 |title=Imposing landmark in Riyadh a witness to city's development |url=https://www.arabnews.com/life-style/imposing-landmark-riyadh-witness-city%E2%80%99s-development |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Arab News |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=al-Riyāḍ |first=Jāmiʻat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nsggAAAAMAAJ&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=Majallat al-Jāmiʻah: al-ʻadad al-awwal |date=1957 |language=ar}}{{Cite book |last=حمد |first=جاسر، |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PcV2AAAAMAAJ&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=مدينة الرياض عبر أطوار التاريخ |date=2001 |publisher=دارة الملك عبد العزيز، |isbn=978-9960-693-72-9 |language=ar}} With an elevation of approximately 50 meters, it is so named for a 7 to 8 meters wide,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gwVuAAAAMAAJ&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=حديث الصحراء |date=2002 |publisher=شركة المختلف للنشر والتوزيع، |language=ar}} almost oval hole through the top of the hill that was formed due to erosion.{{Cite web |title=جبل |url=https://archive.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=43&article=309638&issueno=9715 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=archive.aawsat.com |language=ar}}{{Cite book |last=Sulaymān |first=Khālid ibn Aḥmad |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VMoLINokEYgC&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=معجم مدينة الرياض |date=1983 |publisher=الجمعية العربية السعودية للثقافة والفنون، ادارة الثقافة، |language=ar}} It was mentioned in Yaqut al-Hamawi's 13th century work Kitāb Mu'jam al-Buldān as Jabal Kharba ({{Langx|ar|جبل الخربة}}) and was once a stopover for caravans arriving from Eastern Arabia en route to the walled town of Riyadh.{{Cite web |title=اليوم الوطني / جبل أبو مخروق .. أقدم حديقة وسط الصحراء وشاهد على عصر الحضارة السعودية |url=https://www.spa.gov.sa/1148455 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=spa.gov.sa |language=ar}}{{Cite web |date=2018-03-09 |title=جبل أبو مخروق وذكريات الملوك والأدباء |url=https://www.aleqt.com/2018/03/09/article_1346451.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=الاقتصادية |language=ar}} The hill was once infamous among locals to be purportedly haunted by Jinns and demons.{{Cite book |last1=Philby |first1=H. St J. B. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v3QtDwAAQBAJ&dq=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82&pg=PT234 |title=الذكرى العربية للمملكة العربية السعودية: Arabian Hubilee |last2=فيلبي |first2=هاري سانت جون فيلبي-عبدالله |date=2003-07-23 |publisher=العبيكان للنشر |isbn=978-9960-40-402-8 |language=ar}}
Overview
The hill is made of limestone and is known for its 7–8 meters wide cavity on the top of the hill that was formed due to erosion.{{Cite book |last1=خال |first1=عبدو |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vSppDgAAQBAJ&dq=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82&pg=PP6 |title=مدن تأكل العشب |last2=الساقي |first2=دار |date=2017-03-21 |publisher=Dar al Saqi |isbn=978-614-425-191-1 |language=ar}} It overlooks the district of al-Malazz and previously had lent its name to the area. The site later became a local visitor attraction as a place of relaxation, and thus, is also regarded as the oldest park of Riyadh years before the site surrounding the hill was transformed into a 40,000 square meters urban park in 1980 by the Riyadh Municipality.{{Cite web |date=7 August 2022 |title=جبل أبو مخروق.. شاهد على الحضارة |url=https://www.alriyadh.com/1965291 |access-date=25 August 2022 |website=www.alriyadh.com}}
Several historical accounts suggest that Abdulaziz ibn Saud had camped in the area the night before he engaged in the Battle of Riyadh in 1902.{{Cite web |last=اللويم |first=الرياض-إبراهيم |date=2006-08-10 |title=فتحة الجبل من الجهة الجنوبية |url=https://www.alyaum.com/articles/411929/ |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=alyaum}}{{Cite book |last=أحمد |first=دويحي، |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mSVjAAAAMAAJ&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=ثلاثية المكتوب مرة أخرى |date=2004 |publisher=دار الكنوز الأدبية |language=ar}} The site was visited by St. John Philby in 1918 and Japanese traveler and historian Eigiro Nakano mentioned this mountain in his 1939 book A Japanese Visit to the Arabian Peninsula.{{Cite book |last=إيجيرو |first=ناكانو، |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hx0uAQAAIAAJ&q=%D8%AC%D8%A8%D9%84+%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88+%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%82 |title=الرحلة اليابانية الى الجزيرة العربية، 1358 H 1939 M |date=1995 |publisher=دارة الملك عبد العزيز، |isbn=978-9960-693-01-9 |language=ar}}
In 2020, the Riyadh Municipality proposed to rehabilitate the park and announced a competition for its design.{{Cite web |title=أمانة منطقة الرياض تطرح تطوير موقع "جبل أبو مخروق" في مسابقة |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2020/20200507/ln27.htm |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.al-jazirah.com}} The designs were selected in 2021 and construction work began in 2023.{{Cite web |title=جبل أبو مخروق.. في حلة جديدة قريبًا |url=https://www.al-jazirah.com/2021/20210526/lp3.htm |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=www.al-jazirah.com}}{{Cite web |title=جانب من أعمال تطوير موقع مشروع جبل أبو مخروق.. صور |url=https://slaati.com/2023/08/28/p2357078.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=صحيفة صدى الالكترونية |language=ar}}