AlUla

Why AlUla works

AlUla is the centrepiece of Saudi Arabia's tourism opening, a vast desert valley in the kingdom's north-west anchored by Hegra — the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Nabataean civilisation's southern capital after Petra, with over 100 monumental tombs carved directly into sandstone outcrops, remarkably well preserved thanks to the dry desert climate. AlUla Old Town's mudbrick ruins, abandoned only in the 1980s, wind through narrow alleyways beneath a hilltop fortress, now partially restored for walking tours at dusk. Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), a naturally sculpted sandstone formation resembling its namesake, has become an evening gathering spot with food trucks and desert seating as the rock changes colour at sunset. Hot-air balloon flights at dawn drift over the valley's canyon walls and the striking Maraya concert hall — reportedly the world's largest mirrored building, reflecting the desert into near-invisibility. Wadi AlFann, an ambitious land-art initiative, is bringing large-scale contemporary sculpture into the desert landscape. AlUla represents Saudi Arabia's most polished, tourism-ready destination, with international-standard resorts, guided Hegra tours (mandatory, booked through the AlUla authority), and a clear signal that the kingdom intends AlUla to be its Petra.

Trip Snapshot

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