Al-Ula, in the depths of a remarkable oasis

First of all, you should know that Al-Ula has its own airport, Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, which opened to international traffic in 2021. Here you will find a useful Information Desk if you have any questions.

If you land here, you'll need to take a taxi the 25 kilometres to your hotel in Al-Ula. Hotel accommodation is fairly scattered around the oasis, and we suggest that you choose your establishment not only for its facilities, but also according to your programme and your priorities as a traveller.

As well as its hotel facilities, which attract an influx of enthusiastic tourists, Al-Ula is a catalyst for cultural activity in the region. Shows are performed here regularly, and a concert hall called " Maraya " exudes an unusual magic: it is completely covered in mirrors.

It's also worth taking a stroll around the Old Town. Here you will find Liyanite and Nabataean inscriptions carved into the rock. These are blocks of stone salvaged at the end of the Middle Ages to build the city. These studies are being carried out through the MuDUD (Multiscalar Documentation for Urban Dynamics) project, managed by France.

The natural world

The Al-Ula oasis is a haven of peace and freshness for any desert-loving traveller who has been in the area for a while. The oasis is split in two and is characterised by its remarkable palm grove, sheltered by the tabular rock formations that surround it.

Peacefully enter this forest of palm trees to enjoy its greenery, rare in the desert. These are date palms. You'll also find citrus trees. These sun-drenched, sugar-laden fruits are sure to please.

Remember to keep hydrated at all times. You may come across a hawker in the shade of the palm fronds.

The oasis is long, but it will take you at least half an hour if you try to cross it on foot. It is one of the largest in the country.

From the hand of man

If you are interested in this subject, you can ask a guide to accompany you to this very special place. The Al-Ula oasis, which has existed since around 3000 BC, is remarkable for the irrigation system that was installed in its soil, probably in the Middle Ages, in particular its underground galleries (qanats) that drain water from the water table by gravity alone (today, of course, the water is drawn off by modern pumping systems).

So you'll understand that an oasis of this size is not the result of a simple combination of water and the magic of vegetation, but that it is truly an anthropic site, in other words one where the hand of man has been decisive.

This is understandable. Since the dawn of time, this oasis has been a place of cultivation where horticultural gardens and market gardening met. Today, archaeobotanists are being called in to understand the extinct workings of this ecosystem, while the crops of the past have given way to date palms and citrus fruits.

Another of the oasis' main attractions is its archaeological site. From your hotel, hop in a taxi or on a bicycle and discover it, accompanied by a guide.

First of all, we know that the oasis was once fortified, a sign of a wealthy city that could be coveted. It collected taxes on the transport of the tree species from southern Arabia that were used to make incense. Its proximity to the ancient incense route, which ran from present-day Yemen to the Mediterranean, explains its liveliness and the flow of people and goods.

From a historical point of view, we are interested in understanding how this civilisation functioned, which probably made this city the capital of the Kingdom of Arabia a millennium before our era. What we already know is that this civilisation was remarkable for its mastery of art (stone statuettes of perfect proportions bear witness to this), its sense of commerce, its advances in the sciences and the particular attention paid to burials, reminiscent of the Pharaonic civilisations that we know they had to trade with (not surprisingly, Egypt is just across the Red Sea).

Another sign of its indisputable progress was the invention of a language and script, "dadanitic", which existed only in this valley, as did, by a play of causality it seems, its deities. Its inhabitants worshipped Ha-Kutbay, the goddess of writing.

Dadanite rock art produced numerous inscriptions, including hunting scenes with camels and ostriches, in which humans were symbolised. And, of course, hieroglyphics.

Unsurprisingly, the main culinary offerings are to be found in the city's hotel restaurants. Entrecôte Café de Paris serves Parisian-inspired cuisine. Banyan Tree' s Harrat serves local and international cuisine, while Suhail Old Town specialises in traditional Arabian cuisine. Banyan Tree 's Saffron offers Thai cuisine in a stylish Asian decor.

Of course, you can easily find other addresses. In addition, foodtrucks are planned, notably on the outskirts of the oasis.

Once you've discovered Al-Ula, you can plan an expedition, or even several, to the Madahin-Saleh site, which is the size of Belgium! Such an escapade is not to be planned lightly, especially as the region is mostly deserted. You'll find the must-see sites such as Al Diwan, the tombs of Al Sanea and Lihyan (Qasr al Farid), and the 18 tombs of Jabal Al Ahmar, but the necropolis as a whole contains around a hundred tombs, some of which are still being cleared or even discovered today. We recommend that you read our article on the necropolis to get the full picture of this vast universe.

Some exceptional tombs are only accessible by 4x4, which will give you the feeling of being privileged - which you will be! This will give you the feeling of being privileged - which you will be! - away from the tourists who have planned their visits by bus. Be aware, however, that your driver will need to be a member of an organisation authorised to visit a particular tomb.