It was not long ago when Saudi Artist Manal AlDowayan set up trampolines on the tan sands of Al Ula. When looked at from the sky, the trampolines looked like water puddles in the hot desert. These installed trampolines were intended to draw attention to the water crisis in the Al Ula region. The TikTok videos of the trampolines became viral and garnered a lot of attention from the public, which in a way, established the city of Al Ula on the world map of art.

Al Ula is undoubtedly Saudi Arabia’s best-kept secret. Al Ula, once a part of the Silk Route, has an amazing landscape with an old city dating back to the 12th century. People can find old mazes made of bricks and mud and incredible picturesque rock formations, naturally sculpted into beautiful shapes. The desert is also home to UNESCO’s world heritage site of Hegra, quite similar to the ancient city of Petra in Jordan.

Wadi AlFann project

To make Al Ula the next artistic and cultural destination for tourists in Saudi Arabia, the Royal Commission for Al Ula (RCU), in close collaboration with national and international artists, has come together to execute a challenging new project known as ‘Wadi AlFann’ or the ‘Valley of the Arts’. The project will span 65 square kilometers. The initiative is a significant part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2030 Vision. According to this, the country is attempting to build an economy which is not primarily dependent on oil and petroleum by promoting Saudi Arabia as a tourist destination and cultural hub.

The project has attracted some major international names, including artist Agnes Denes, who is famous for planting and harvesting two acres of wheat just a few buildings away from Wall Street, and James Turrell, who turned an extinct volcano in Arizona into a significant piece of art. The project has also attracted entertainment artists like Kanye West. The project is under the supervision of famous curator Iwona Blazwick, a former director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery.

Current developments

While there will always be concerns about censorship and restrictions in Saudi Arabia, things do seem to be changing. For example, the human image is crucial to Saudi artist Ahmed Mater’s vision even though Islamic art prohibits human illustration. Agnes Denes will build distinctive pyramids, and Manal AlDowayan will use a maze-like setup modeled on the old city’s mud walls to record the stories and memories of local people.

Returning to Al Ula’s development as an artistic and tourist destination, this process looks to be well underway. The city has successfully hosted Desert X, a Coachella-style art event; the largest Saudi gallery, Athr, has opened an exhibition space here; a number of opulent resorts are opening to give tourists a taste of glamping in the desert, and operators offer helicopter tours so that visitors can take pictures in the breathtaking scenery. Al Ula, which is about a four-hour journey from Madinah, also boasts of having an international airport.

Suggested Read: 8 Popular Places To Visit In Al Ula, A Global Cultural Hub In The KSA

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Beautiful places to visit in Al Ula

1. Hegra Heritage Site – The tombs in Nabataean architecture

Hegra is the first World Heritage Site of Saudi Arabia, having around 111 tombs uniquely designed in Nabataean architecture. The site preserves many ruins from the ancient and pre-Islamic eras. Numerous remains of agricultural farms and wells can be found on the site showing the architectural prowess of the Nabataeans. The city has fine structure designs and tombs that tourists can explore to understand the past civilizations.

Location: 31 km north of Al Ula city center in the Al Hejaz region

Top attractions: Ancient tombs, and Nabataean structures

Must Read: Al Hijr Archaeological Site, Hegira Madain Saleh: Inside, History, How To Reach, Permit

2. Dadan Historical Site – The capital of Dadan kingdom

Dadan served as the capital of Dadan and Lyhan Kingdom in the 9th and 8th BC. The city showcases ancient rock arts. Most of these inscriptions from the period can be found in a mountain near Dadan, Jabal Ikmah. The mountain is the Saudi Arabia’s largest open library due to the presence of age-old inscriptions and rock art on animals, hunting techniques, livelihood, and more.

Location: Road 375 near Harrat Viewpoint Park

Top attractions: Rock art, and inscriptions from Dadan period

3. Jabal Al-Fil – Famously known as the Elephant Rock

Having been carved from wind and water erosion, Jabal Al-Fil is one of popular Al Ula tourist places which is a sand structure resembling an elephant. The location offers several activities, including trekking, camping, and sightseeing. Tourists can indulge themselves in stargazing in a serene setting with barbeque and campfire. Further, elephant rock is a sight to behold in itself with picturesque surroundings.

Location: 19 km from Al Ula City Center

Timings: 4 pm to 12 am

Ticket: 50 SR

Top attractions: Camping, and watching sunsets

Must Visit: Elephant Rock, Al Ula: Natural Rock Formation For Family Getaways

4. Jabal Khuraibah – The Tomb of the Lion

Jabal Khuraibah is a mountain in Al Ula housing an old fortress and some ancient rock inscriptions. The rock-cut Tomb located at the foot of the peak is the most impressive structure in Jabal Khuraibah. The Tomb of the Lion is named after the two lions carved on either side of the entrance. There is a huge headless sandstone statue in Kurabibi with stone stairs and walls linking all three crags to form a ruined fortress city.

Location: Al-Abwa, Saudi Arabia

Timings: This location is open from 8 am to 5 pm

Top attractions: The Tomb of the Lion, and the fortress

5. Al Ula Heritage Village – With an old mosque and a fort

This offbeat village is among the top places to visit in Al Ula. Visitors can freely wander and stroll among the breathtaking mud ruins or the heritage village. The ancestors of the current residents of Al Ula stayed here for centuries. While visiting Al Ula fort, tourists should visit the tantura (sundial) and the old mosque. The location has several ruins from the old era.

Location: Near road 375, Al Ula

Timings: It opens at 8:30 am and closes at 12 am, everyday

Top attractions: Al Ula fort, old houses, and the mosque

6. Al Ula Old Town – Ancient houses and shops

The Al Ula Old Town has 900 old houses and 400 shops distributed throughout the location. Tourists exploring the town can get an insight into the life of people inhabiting the town in the past. The town is constructed with mud and brick walls giving a hint of the advanced architecture of that era. It served as a settlement for pilgrims traveling from Damascus to Makkah.

Location: Road 375 near King Abdulaziz Park, Al Ula

Top attractions: Mud wall structures, houses, and shops

7. Hejaz Railway Station – The living museum of Hejaz railway

The railway station is built on the old trade routes linking the Levant and Egypt to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The aim to build the railway lines was to decrease the travel time and enhance the safety of the pilgrims. Though the Hejaz railway project was never completed due to World War 1, the station serves as a great memoir of the 19th and 20th-century railways.

Location: Near Tomb of Lihayn on road 375, Al Ula

8. Al Ula viewpoint – View of Red Mountains

Al Ula’s viewpoint offers a shimmering view of Al Ula tourist spots and city. Tourists can experience a surreal picture surrounded by majestic red mountains disappearing into the horizon. Nabataeans chose this Martian landscape as their settlement. The viewpoint provides exceptional sunrise and sunsets. Tourists can camp on the nearby camping sites to spend a night under the mysterious Al Ula sky.

Best time to visit: The best time to visit Al Ula Viewpoint is either during dusk or at dawn, as the sky looks beautiful and gives a scenic view to the tourist.

Top attractions: Picturesque landscape of Nabataean settlement

Best Time to Visit Al Ula

Al Ula has extreme summers; hence, the best time to visit Al Ula is from October to March. The temperature remains moderate during these months making them best time to explore numerous spots in the city.

How to reach Al Ula

Al Ula is served by Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz Domestic Airport. Tourists can visit Al Ula from Madinah via a road that is 330 km from the Madinah city center. Further, one can board a train to Al Hofuf railway station and reach Al Ula via taxi. Tourists can reach most of the city’s destinations easily by taxi and public transport.

Ideal Trip Duration

Al Ula is a must-visit ancient city, offering some of the most famous tourist spots in Saudi Arabia. Tourists visiting Al Ula should at least plan a trip of 3 to 4 days to explore the mesmerizing destinations of the city fully.

Al Ula is a city ruled by many leaders in the past, imparting a vibrant culture to the region. Places to visit in Al Ula offer a hint of past civilizations and their life. Tourists can experience the heritage of Al Ula by visiting these mystical locations.

Places To Visit In Al Ula FAQs

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