Overview
Al-Ula (ٱلْعُلَا al-ʿUlā), officially branded AlUla, is a city in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia.
Understand
Al-Ula is an ancient oasis town at the northern tip of the Hejaz, best known for its many Nabatean historical sites, most notably the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra (Madain Saleh), a rock-hewn city built by the same civilization as Jordan's Petra.
Long obscure, in 2017 the Saudi government set up a Royal Commission with the stated aim of turning Al-Ula into a world-class tourist attraction. Investment since has been fast and furious, with the airport now fielding direct international flights and a cluster of 10 luxury hotels springing up. Get there before the world finds out about it!
Climate The best time to visit Al-Ula is generally from October to April, when temperatures are cooler and more comfortable for exploring archaeological sites, desert landscapes, and outdoor activities. The winter months from November to February are especially popular due to the mild daytime weather and seasonal events.
During the summer months from June to September, temperatures can become very high, making outdoor activities more challenging, especially during the middle of the day. Plan activities for early morning or evening and prepare for the hot desert climate.
Get in
The nearest major airport is at Medina, around 300 km away.
By bus Saptco runs direct buses to Al-Ula from major towns including Jeddah (8 hr) and Riyadh (13½ hr).
By car There is no parking in the old town itself, but there are two park-and-ride car parks at the north and south ends of the town with free minibuses and golf carts.
Get around
Uber and Careem are available. Don't count on being able to grab one at Al-Ula International Airport though.
Due to the spread-out nature of Al-Ula's attractions including Hegra, you'll need some sort of transport to get around. Options include rental cars, taxis, ride-hailing services, and organized tours.
See
Most visitors come to Al-Ula to see Hegra (Madain Saleh), 22 km away and covered in a separate article.
Old City of Dadan. Remnants of an old Nabatean city. Highlight are the Lion Tombs of Dadan, carved tombs into the rocks with large lions carved at each side. The lion sculptures can only be observed by installed binoculars from about 170 m, because the structure is very fragile. Tour includes the visit at a small museum at the Dadan Visitor Center and a visit at the archaeological excavation site. It can only be visited as part of a two hour tour. Unfortunately the tour is spun out longer than it should be and the English version of the audio guide is weak.
Rock Carvings of Jabal Ikhmal. Ancient petroglyphs that were carved into the nearby mountains and rocks by ancient travellers and pilgrims. The tour includes a participation at rock carving workshop where visitors can carve their names in old Nabatean language into rocks, which they can take home as souvenirs. Visited together with the Old City of Dadan.
Dadan Heritage Trail. A picturesque trail close to the old city of Dadan, through a date plantation with many historical farm ruins and gardens.
Old Town of Al-Ula. The historical town center, a cluster of ancient houses mixed with new buildings that were made looking old. A small castle has a great view of the old town but it can only be visited on a tour booked from the Incense Road.
Restored Hejaz Railway Station. Facilities all set up and ready for tourists, but are locked tight as a drum! This location will likely be developed as a tourist attraction.
Harrat Viewpoint. A scenic viewpoint at Mount Harrat overlooking the whole valley. There is also a parking lot and fancy restaurant at that same spot.
Buy
Market Street. The tourist street in the Old Town. There is a wide selection of souvenirs such as clothes, handicraft, beauty products, jewellery and such.
Eat
Most of the upper-class hotels in the region have their own exquisite in-house restaurants. Alternatively you can also look for rather tourist-oriented (and accordingly expensive) restaurants and cafés in the Old Town.
If you have your own means of transport or if you are staying there in the first place, you could visit the more local and cheaper restaurants in the New Town (2 km south of the Old Town), where all the regular locals go eat. There is a wide selection of Western-style fast food, Arabian-style rice dishes, Shawarma and Kebab, Yemeni cuisine and other restaurants.
Sleep
A cluster of 10 ultra-luxury hotels between the city and Hegra is in various stages of completion.
Banyan Tree AlUla. Luxury tented villas set in a wadi in the middle of the desert. The rock pool wedged into a narrow valley is spectacular.
Red Mountains Farm Resort. There are few budget or mid-range options in Al-Ula. These self-catered cabins are 35 minutes away, but are reasonably priced. Owner only accepts cash. Wi-Fi is good. Situated among beautiful rock formations and in a fruit orchard.
Make Al-Ula your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5314778 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-07-21. This is not a date of field verification.
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