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Maʾrib

مأرب

The second Sabaean capital after Sirwah, seat of the famous dam; its ruins lie about sixty miles east of Sanaa, and its flood is the Quranic Sayl al-Arim.

Depth

At a glance

Era
Pre-Islamic Arabia
Region
Arabia
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Summary

Marib was the second capital of Saba, after Sirwah. The kings of Saba made it their capital in the period that The Sealed Nectar dates from 650 BCE to 115 BCE. Its ruins lie sixty miles from Sanaa, on its eastern side 1 2.

The dam

Beside it is the Marib Dam. Its construction began in the time of the Mukarrib kings of Sirwah, and it has great importance in the history of Yemen. It burst in 450 or 451 CE, which became the Flood of al-Arim 3 1. Sirwah lies a day's journey to the west of Marib 3.

After Saba

When Himyar prevailed over the kingdom of Saba, it made Raydan its capital instead of Marib 1.

For young visitors

Marib is an ancient city of Yemen. Beside it was a famous dam that broke; the water flowed out and scattered the people.

Connections

Explore the connections

Site of
The Flood of al-Arim (the Bursting of Maʾrib Dam)· The flood of the 'Arim
Contains
The Maʾrib Dam

People and things also explored

The Maʾrib Dam· The Flood of al-Arim (the Bursting of Maʾrib Dam)· Pre-Islamic Arabia· The flood of the 'Arim

Sources

  1. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.24
  2. Tafhim al-Quran — Abu al-A'la al-Mawdudi , 4/195-198
  3. al-Raheeq al-Makhtum — Safi al-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri , p.23
  • Muruj al-Dhahab — al-Masʼudi
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “Maʾrib”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/place/marib/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-22.

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The Maʾrib Dam

The great dam of the Sabaean kingdom whose construction began in the Mukarrib era; its repeated breaches, and final burst around 450 CE, are the Sayl al-Arim of Surat Saba in the sira’s account.