AlUla: Wonder of Arabia

A crossroads of civilisations.

Located at the crossroads of continents, AlUla has been a remarkable meeting point for civilisations that left behind an abundant heritage. For centuries, its oasis served as a crossing point for caravans on the Incense trade route, which connected Asia, Africa, and Europe, transiting spices, myrrh, cotton, ebony, and silk.

The oasis city, once named Dedan, was successively ruled by Ancient North Arabian Kingdoms, followed by the Nabataeans, an ancient civilisation of Arabian merchants, who founded the ancient city of Hegra—sibling of Petra. Its flagship site, Madain Saleh, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2008, housing 138 rocky tombs, sanctuaries, wells, decorated frontages, and more.

Subsequently, the Roman Empire annexed the kingdom and imparted Greek and Latin influence on the AlUla Valley before Muhammad's arrival in 630 A.D. during his campaign against the Byzantine army. In the 13th century, Muslims reused stones from the Dedanite and Lihyanite ruins to construct what is known today as the Old Town of AlUla.

All these civilisations stamped the region with their unique cultures, leaving exceptional archaeological sites for posterity.

AlUla: Wonder of Arabia captures the essence of this extraordinary convergence of histories.