GlobalSpa
26-Nov-2025
AlUla invites you to linger, to listen, and to experience the desert in ways that are as unexpected as they are unforgettable.
Built around an oasis, replete with dramatic rock formations and ancient ruins breathing stories from millennia past, AlUla conjures feelings of surrealism. The ancient valley, tucked in the north-western region of Saudi Arabia, has soon become a destination that beckons explorers, history lovers, and those chasing wellness alike, at any time of the year. While its natural beauty and UNESCO World Heritage sites are reason enough to catch your breath, the lineup of new and upcoming experiences makes visiting AlUla right now especially tempting.
The Ancient Kingdoms Festival
When: 20th November to 6th December 2025
AlUla will transform into a living museum of stories, heritage, culture, and ancient trade routes themed under “Journeys Through Time”. At the heart of this festival is Hegra After Dark (20 November – 14 February), an immersive experience that turns Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site into a sensory wonder—think light, sound, scent, and storytelling under a canopy of stars. Further, look up for the Stories from the Sky – Hegra Drone Show, a dazzling mix of projections and aerial choreography that reimagines Hegra’s legends in the night sky. Music lovers shouldn’t miss the Hegra Candlelit Classics, where world-renowned artists like YOSHIKI, Ibrahim Maalouf, Jon Batiste, and Marilyne Naaman perform under a thousand flickering candles. There’s plenty more to explore, like geology hikes, children’s storytelling tours, after-dark explorations at Jabal Ikmah, and new activations in Old Town, including AlUla’s first Escape House and the award-winning Incense Road Experience, where you can craft your own incense.
A Harmony of Regional Flavours & French Gastronomy with ‘Ducasse in AlUla’
When: 18th December 2025 to 21st February 2026
This luxurious oasis-to-table pop-up experience, by celebrated chef Alain Ducasse, will offer an extraordinary fusion of French culinary technique and the rich, distinctive flavours of AlUla. Nestled beneath the lush canopy of AlUla’s oasis and located near the ancient heritage site of Jabal Ikmah, the restaurant will provide a warm, elegant setting for an unforgettable, high-end gastronomic journey that includes a 5- or 7-course menu. Expect extraordinary creations such as pâté en croûte (meat pie wrapped in crust pastry) with green date condiment; blue crab cake with burnt lemon and fennel; slow-cooked camel with foie gras and puff potatoes; and grilled spiny lobster accented with tamarind and curry leaves for the starters and mains. Desserts are equally indulgent, offering combinations such as hot chocolate with hazelnut, frozen lemon with mint and tarragon, or apple puff pastry with vanilla and tahini.
Winter at Tantora
When: 18 December 2025 to 10 January 2026
As the desert air turns cool, AlUla awakens with its most anticipated celebration of the season— Winter at Tantora. Named after the ancient sundial in Old Town that once marked the start of the planting season, this festival transforms the oasis into a hub of art, music, and culture. Wander through the Old Town Art Walk, where painted mudbrick homes and vibrant murals come alive through stories told by a local Rawi (storyteller). In Shorfat Tantora, the rhythms of AlUla echo through the night as live music fills the streets of AlJadidah Arts District and AlManshiyah Plaza. For a touch of magic, spend an evening at Old Town Nights and experience heritage shows and fine dining set within AlUla’s open-air amphitheatre and ancient fort.
All image credits: The Royal Commission for AlUla
