The ancient city of AlUla has become the first destination in the Middle East to earn the Destinations International Accreditation.
The announcement, made by the USA based global association for destination professionals came today during the Destinations International Annual Convention in Florida.
This remarkable milestone comes only a year after AlUla made history by becoming the first member of Destinations International from the Middle East.
Stunning History
Located in the Hejaz, the ancient city of AlUla is one of the most innovative and captivating destinations in the world.
It dates back millennia with blooming civilizations and several cultural and heritage treasures.
AlUla is a destination of a global significance with 200,000 years of human history and culture at the crossroads of ancient civilizations.
After years of being closed to outsiders, AlUla starts to reveal its secrets and outstanding cultural heritage. The ancient desert oasis officially opened to international travelers full-time in 2020.
Interestingly, Saudi Arabia is now welcoming tourists with open arms and an eVisa process that only takes five minutes.
How to Get to AlUla?
Some airlines companies offer flights to AlUla including Saudia, Flynas, and Flyadeal.
The city is accessible from various major hubs including Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam.
It takes only one hour and 20 minutes from Jeddah to AlUla, one hour and 50 minutes from Riyadh, and two hours and 10 minutes from Dammam.
The city contains various spectacular tourist attractions that wait for visitors to recognize its mysterious secrets.
Elephant Rock (Jabal Al-Fil)
Soaring 52m into the sky, Jabal Al-Fil was shaped by wind and water erosion over millions of years.
Resembling an elephant with a ground-bound trunk, tourists can enjoy the awe-inspiring view of AlUla’s iconic landmark, Elephant Rock.
The sunset perfectly portrays a charming view when the colors of the rock change dramatically and the enormous elephant becomes more marvelous in the warm lights that have been installed at the site.
Oasis Heritage Trail
Oasis Heritage Trail is like a paradise, an amazing refugee, among the middle of this charming desert.
Extending over 6 km, the oasis offers a golden chance to visitors to explore the momentous history of the region.
The oasis encompasses several entry and exit points and it is fully surrounded by towering date palms and mudbrick homes.
Hegra: Saudi Arabia’s First UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Hegra Archaeological Site marks the first World Heritage property to be inscribed in Saudi Arabia. The site stands as the largest conserved site of the civilization of the Nabataeans south of Petra in Jordan.
Covering 52 hectares with 131 spectacular tombs and numerous rock formations, the site represents a quintessential destination for nature lovers and eco-tourism enthusiasts.
Tourists have an exclusive opportunity to hop on a horse and marvel at the picturesque evening skies of Hegra. Even more excellent, if they have a look at the charming inscriptions and cave drawings of the pre-Nabataean period.
AlUla Old Town
The ancient town bears a testimony to AlUla’s rich and momentous history.
The city boasts several mud-brick buildings and narrow streets featuring the architectural marvel of Saudi Arabia.
With 900 homes, 500 shops, and 5 public squares, the town demonstrates the magnificent Saudi architecture.
The town was normally inhabited for more than 800 years until the 1980s, when the government decided to relocate its residents to nearby sites to preserve the cultural town as an open-air museum.
Maraya: World’s Largest Mirrored Building
To squeeze more joy out of an ecstatic journey at AlUla, visitors can have a look at Maraya, the largest mirror-covered building in the world.
Maraya contains a total of 9740 square meters of mirrors reflecting the vast and breathtaking desert surroundings of AlUla.
Maraya hosted many international performers, including Alicia Keys, Lionel Ritchie, John Legend, Usher, OneRepublic, Andrea Bocelli, Seal, Westlife. Many artists from the Arab world have also performed at Maraya, such as Egyptian musician Omar Khairait, Iraqi singer and composer Kadim Al Sahir, Egyptian singer Angham, and many more.
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