Arabian Business, Wednesday, Jun 3, 2020 | Shawwal 11, 1441
Saudi's AlUla re-opening in October 2020
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi residents will be the first to witness the reopening of one of the
world’s undiscovered wonders.
Tourism destination AlUla, which is located in the North West of Saudi Arabia
and includes the kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, will reopen in
October 2020.
Developed by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the 250,000 year old site
will welcome visitors all year round, with some attendees of its annual arts
festival Winter at Tantora having already been granted access to the
archaeological sites in the event’s first two years.
Visitors will be able to access the main heritage sites, cultural touring
options and a range of adventure experiences.
“With the rebound of the travel sector undoubtedly starting close to home,
KSA residents within a drive or a short flight of AlUla will get a head
start on experiencing the raw, natural beauty and monumentality of
landscapes in their backyard,” said Phillip Jones, Chief Destination
Officer, RCU.
While overnight visitors can currently choose from five accommodation
providers, AlUla’s room numbers will increase to 9,400 by 2035.
Starting from October, visitors will be able to access four key heritage
sites including Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008; Dadan, one
of the most developed 1st millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula;
Jabal Ikmah, often referred to as the ‘Lihyanite library’; and Old Town, the
ancient walled city of AlUla.
But experiences at the destination will extend beyond the heritage sites,
and into treks and trails which will be available both guided by the local
Rawi (Arabic storyteller) or self-guided.
“We are developing immersive, light-touch experiences that harness the power
and silence of the landscapes, experiences like guided stargazing in a
desert night sky that has inspired science, religion, philosophy, art and
literature for millennia,” said Jones.
Adventure tourists will also be catered for, whether it’s tearing around the
sandscapes in a desert buggy, or taking to the skies in a vintage light
air-craft to see volcanic craters and key hole tombs in the lava fields of
Harrat Khaybar.
For families, Hijrat Noura, or Princess Noura Farm, located close to Hegra,
offers a chance to get up close and personal with the local flora and fauna,
while Winter Park, an experience developed for the Winter at Tantora
festival, will also make a come-back as a more permanent attraction offering
a casual open-air atmosphere for food trucks and art installations.