Ayla ( Arabic : ???? ??) was a medieval Islamic city established at the site of present-day Aqaba in Jordan . It was the first Islamic city founded outside of the Arabian Peninsula . Its ruins are located northwest of the current city center. A view of Ayla Ayla with a background view of mountains North of Aqaba History In 630, shortly after the Hijrah , the Prophet of Islam Muhammad concluded an agreement with the Bishop of Ailan, the Byzantine city located about 500 meters northeast of the site of Ayla, which was included peacefully into the Islamic conquest. The city was founded around the year 650 by the Caliph Uthman ibn Affan . The city prospered from 661 to 750 under the Ummayads and beyond under the Abbasids (750-970) and the Fatimids (970-1116), but declined in the late twelfth century due to earthquakes and attacks by Bedouins and Crusaders . Baldwin I of Jerusalem took over the city in 1116 without much resistance. The center of the city then moved to 500 meters along the coast to the sout Express yourself. Organize your knowledge. Expand your mind. Discover the world. Revolvy connects you with interesting topics, lists and quizzes. Choose from hundreds of quizzes that test your knowledge. Search through millions of topics. Create a your personalized library of topics, and discover topics that others are following.