AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Last week I was invited to a private dinner. We were told the purpose was to tell us about an emerging destination like no other. In truth, I hear this often, but this time was indeed different.
Saudi Arabia has never been high on the list of many people I know as a ‘must visit’ country. This has a lot to do with its human rights record, but times are changing. An area in the north-west is being opened up for tourism. An experiment? Perhaps.
AlUla is a name you will start to hear more of. This whole area dates back over 200,000 years and it is large … 22,562 sq m. It is an ancient oasis which once formed an important part of the trade (incense) road and pilgrimage route to Makkah. It is a land preserved by time, a jewel of archaeological and cultural history and it truly is like no other place.
Hegra, an UNESCO World Heritage site, was the Nabataean Kingdom’s principal southern city where the elite buried their dead in elaborate cliffside tombs. Jabal Ikmah is like an open ancient manuscript where you will find hundreds of preserved inscriptions describing the lives of the people who lived there, traded there, worshiped there and eventually died there.
The geography is unique. In the middle of the desert, you will find massive rock outcrops, sandstone canyons and plateaus of black volcanic stone through the middle of which runs a lush oasis with thousands of date palms which still offer shelter, food and relief from the sun just as they have been doing for thousands of years.
What I found most exciting is that 85% of the people working in AlUla are female and I am told around 90% of the local guides will be women. The elderly female population is being encouraged to resurrect their ancient crafts and to teach and display their goods so tourists can learn more about Arabian culture. Who would have thought in such a male dominated culture, this would even be possible?
AlUla will NOT be open to mass tourism. The focus will remain on sustainable tourism and preservation of the cultural and natural heritage plus job creation for the local communities. Those who are lucky enough to visit will be treated like royalty and accommodated in 5star resorts including Banyan Tree and Aman Resorts which offer the highest level of service and culinary experiences created by Michelin-starred chefs.
Here is an opportunity to step back in time, to explore a truly different part of our world; to open your mind to an unfamiliar culture; to find your inner adventurer, but also to relax and be pampered.