Khaberni - A photograph taken in 1861 is among the oldest known photographs in the Arabian Peninsula, documenting the features of Medina during an early period of photographic history.
The photo was taken by Egyptian Colonel Muhammad Sadiq, during his visit to the city on an official mission to survey the pilgrim route between the towns of Al-Wajh and Yanbu, in one of the first attempts at visual documentation in the region.
At the time, the photographer relied on large cameras using the «wet plate» technique, one of the earliest photographic methods that required complex preparations and special conditions for taking pictures.
In 1881, Muhammad Sadiq returned to Mecca and Medina, where he documented the Hajj rituals with his camera, in a step that is considered one of the early beginnings of visually recording these ceremonies.
These shots reflect the importance of this stage in the history of photography and its role in preserving the features of sacred places and documenting them for future generations, despite the limited technical capabilities at that time.
