A visit to the AlUla Old Town is on our bucket list

There’s no doubt that AlUla in Saudi Arabia is certainly appealing to wanderlusters across the globe as it’s on the path to becoming a hot tourism destination. Courtesy of its mud-brick houses, beautiful rock formations and for being a heritage hub, we understand why AlUla would be on your bucket lists (as it is on ours). And now, one of the significant heritage sites in AlUla has officially opened up to welcome visitors after a three-year hiatus. 

The AlUla Old Town is recognised for its tightly packed stone and mudbrick buildings, and after three years of extensive restoration and conservation by the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), the local community and visitors for future generations can now enjoy four new eateries, a souq, entertainment and a handicraft pavilion when works are completed.

If you plan a visit, you’ll be able to dwell at one of the open-air eateries along the road including AlUla’s newest fine dining restaurant Suhail, which offers traditional Saudi cuisine. You’ll also come across a handicraft pavilion to see live demonstrations of ancient arts and crafts and if you’re into a more immersive experience, you can book a tour that will grant you access to the specially restored streets which visit Tantora Plaza and Sundial, the two restored mosques of AlZawiyah and Hamad bin Yunis and up to the citadel for bird’s eye views of the town, as well as the recently conserved homes in the southern end of town. 

“AlUla Old Town is an important chapter in AlUla’s journey through time,” explains Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer, RCU. “The site is key to the understanding, continuity, and evolution of the historic routes for trade and pilgrimage that made AlUla such a significant destination until the 20th century as it is for visitors again today.”

We’re definitely adding AlUla’s Old Town to our bucket list. 

AlUla Old Town is open now and is free for visitors to pursue the market stalls and access Suhail. Tours on the restored pathways can be booked online at experiencealula.com.

Until the uncertainty over travelling comes to an end, take a look at Saudi Arabia’s ‘Coral Bloom’, a luxury part of the Red Sea Project.