Madinah: The earliest known photograph taken within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dates back to 1277 AH (1861) when Egyptian officer and surveyor Muhammad Sadiq captured it during his visit to Madinah. This visit was part of a mission to survey the pilgrimage route between Al-Wajh and Yanbu.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the photograph is considered the oldest known image taken within the kingdom's territory, as mentioned in a book titled "The Beginnings of Photojournalism in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." The image was produced using a large-format camera employing the wet plate process, a method prevalent during that era.
Sadiq later returned to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah in 1298 AH (1881), as cited in the book, where he documented the Hajj rituals through photographs. These photographs serve as an important historical record of the time.