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The most recent destination to have come into the limelight is the fabled living museum of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Al Ula. The region has seen massive findings of archaeological structures, which is the largest in all of Saudi Arabia. This has not only piqued the interest of Archaeologists and historians but also of several international travellers. Preparations are ongoing to ensure the effective and efficient handling of the large number of tourists that the country is expecting. Al Ula’s numerous eventful festivals and events are taking place every month. And any time of the year when travellers will visit the country, they will be able to take part in some festival or event. Below is an interesting read on the top ten festivals in Al Ula that will bring the living museum to life.
List Of Festivals In Al Ula
Winter At Tantora
The Winter At Tantora is an annual festival that began back in 2018. The festival goes on for three months permitting visitors to explore Al Ula’s rich history and cultural heritage. Through live music festivals, concerts, arts, crafts and adventure activities. The festival also features several makeshift food stalls that offer various local and international delicacies. Depending on your interest you can book your tickets to Al Ula accordingly and indulge in the different activities the festival has to offer.
Month: December
Al Ula Citrus Festival
The Al Ula Citrus festival takes place in the north-western part of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The festival happens at the Al Ula Oasis, which overwhelms its visitors with its several beautiful landscapes. The oasis serves as a pivotal point in supporting the region’s agricultural advancements and have been doing so for many years. The water body provides fresh water for over two hundred thousand citrus trees. Some of which include the torounge orange, the Jaffa orange, the succari orange, the mandarin oranges, marsh grapefruit and many more.
Month: January
Al Ula Arts
The Al Ula Arts festival is a new event that will take place in 2022. The event will witness some of the most decorated artists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event will feature events and exhibitions showcasing the art of some of these talented artists. All the events will happen at ‘the Maraya’, which is a modern influential art structure in Saudi Arabia. The structure stands in the heart of the Al Ula and will host the kingdom’s greatest artist during the Al Ula Arts festival.
Month: February
Al Ula Skies
The Al Ula Skies festival is one of its kind and the first one to take place in the Arabian peninsula. The Al Ula Skies festival will witness several activities like hot air balloon rides, vintage aeroplane rides and helicopter rides over the vast expanse of Al Ula. The ride will cover some of the most spectacular locations in Al Ula that are best visible from the sky. From the volcanic plains to the Hegra to the mountainous Madakheel, the festival will cover it all. And to top it all off the festival promises various musical and light performances that promise to light up the Al Ula night sky.
Month: March
Helicopter Tour Of Al Ula
In the month of April, one of the most unique events to grace the region of Al Ula is the helicopter tour of Al Ula. The tour will happen in a state of the art passenger helicopter that will take the passengers on an aerial tour of the region. On this tour, one can witness the iconic desert landscapes of Al Ula. And some remarkable landmarks that grace the region as the UNESCO heritage sites in Al Ula. The views of the desert landscape are certain to leave memories that would last a lifetime.
Month: April
Eid al-Fitr
The month of May marks the end of the auspicious and holy month of Ramadan in all the Gulf and Islamic countries. The festival marks the end of a new beginning and the end of the 40 days of fasting by Islamists all over the world. The festival holds a special place in Al Ula as the region lies in close proximity to Madinah and Makkah. Which are the two holiest cities in the Islamic religion. The festival witnesses family’s coming together for a grand celebration that takes place over a period of three days.
Month: May
Hegra Tour
The next event to grace Al Ula is a tour of the region of Hegra. The region of Hegra is the largest UNESCO heritage site in the region. And is also the largest remains of the Nabatean civilizations to the south of Petra. The Nabatean’s were nomadic people who in several references would scour the Arabian region in search of lush pastures for their cattle and water. Hegra is the largest remain of this ancient nomadic civilization making the location very important for archaeologists and historians.
Month: June
Eid al-Adha
The next festival to grace the region of Al Ula is the festival of Eid Al-Adha. The festival is a religious festival that marks the end of the Hajj. The event is popular for celebrating an event in Islam mentioned in the Quran. The festival marks the time when one of the forefathers of Islam dreamt of Allah demanding a sacrifice of his son as a mark of his obedience. The father without any hesitation ties his son on a stone tablet and was ready to make the sacrifice. It was at this point that Allah stopped Ibrahim from sacrificing his only son and suggested the sacrifice a lamb instead. Even after the devil tempted Ibrahim from not sacrificing his son to Allah.
Month: July
Al Ula Wellness
The next event to grace the region of Al Ula in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the Al Ula Wellness event. The event will see the world popular art of meditation and relaxation, yoga. On a much larger scale with the first of its kind event taking place in the region. The Al Ula Wellness will focus on the replenishing of body, mind and spirit to help individuals rejuvenate from stress. The event will orbit around the five wellness sanctuaries. The activity is aimed at helping one to elevate their human senses to the next level.
Month: August
Al Ula Old Town Tour
The month of September will witness the event called the Al Ula Old Town Tour. The event focuses on an all-round tour of the Old Town in Al Ula. The town is a historical representation of how Al Ula would look during its golden age. The Old Town in Al Ula is a reminiscence of stories about travellers, pilgrims and locals that used to put up in the area. There are several historically important archaeological structures that speak of the numerous tales that have been around for generations.
Month: September
Dadan & Jabal Ikhmah Tour
The month of October will witness the event called the Dadan & Jabal Ikhmah Tour. The event focuses on an all-round tour of the Dadan region in Al Ula and the popular Jabal Ikhmah mountains. The town is a historical representation of the Dadanite and Lihyanite civilizations. The Jabal Ikmah mountains or popularly called the ‘Open Library’. Is yet another marvel of the ancient Arabic world. The location has borne the brunt of time and survived to see another century. The walls of the mountains are like the pages from a massive book, with inscriptions dating back a century.
Month: October
Adventure Trail In Al Ula
The month of November will witness the event popularly known as the Adventure Trail in Al Ula. The event focuses on a tour of a trail, which lies on the outskirts of Al Ula and is roughly eight km long. The trail is a stretch of a historical treasure trove. The trail is home to two thousand-year-old pictographs that speak of the daily activities. These activities used to be a part of the daily routine in ancient Al Ula.
Month: November
