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MM212 Says: Al-Ula was a stop along the Hijaz Railway, which connected Medina with Damascus and eventually Constantinople. It was built by the Ottomans in the early 20th century to speed up the journey to Mecca during the pilgrimage season, but the railway was only in use for a short...
MM212 Says: Located a short distance north-east of al-Ula, on the cliffs within the valley in an area known as al-Khurayba, these tombs are evidence of 2600 years of settlement in al-Ula, originally called Dedan. They are known as al-Aswad Tombs and were carved around the 6th century BC...
MM212 Says: Perched on a promontory 45 metres above historic al-Ula, the town's Castle commands strategic views over the entire valley. It is sometimes referred to as the Castle of Musa bin Nuseir, the Omayyad-period army general who ruled over North Africa and was involved in...
MM212 Says: Although rich in history and natural beauty, al-Ula is mainly visited because of nearby Mada'in Saleh, the Nabataean city of Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As the closest town, only 22 km away, al-Ula is the gateway to the archaeological site, which contains over 100...
MM212 Says: Abandoned by its inhabitants for more modern facilities only about 40 years ago, the old village of al-Ula, or al-Deera as it is locally called, is now all but a ghost town. It consists of a walled village of about 800 dwellings around the perimeter of the more ancient...
Other things to see & do in al-Ula
MM212 Says: There are a few other activities and sites in al-Ula which I regrettably did not get to see or do, mainly due to time constraints. First of all, the archaeological museum of al-Ula, located in the modern town, is supposed to be excellent, if small, exhibiting ancient...
MM212 Says: A rare sight in Arabia, the green oasis of al-Ula is a welcomed change from the harsh desert scenery. The valley's geographic situation graced the area with many natural wells that have been well-utilised since ancient times to irrigate the oasis. This has made the valley an...
MM212 Says: The mountains surrounding al-Ula are of extraordinary beauty. Many of them have unusual natural rock formations that make a striking backdrop to any photo. For more photos, take a look at the travelogue: "Mountains of al-Ula."
MM212 Says: The modern town of al-Ula spreads across the entire valley from north to south. Its architecture is typical of modern Saudi Arabia and not particularly attractive. Still, with the breathtaking cliffs and oasis as a backdrop, modern al-Ula is a scenic town. The modern town...
MM212 Says: Of a modern construction, this gateway is the symbolic entrance into the new town of al-Ula. It is located at the southern edge of town in the middle of a roundabout and signals your arrival when approaching from Medina.
MM212 Says: Many of the abandoned houses of Old al-Ula are open for inspection. Entering any of the houses gives an eerie feeling that the owners may have abruptly left only a day before. Although no furniture remains, many of the details are still in place, including some painted wall...
MM212 Says: Located just below the castle of al-Ula, this stone structure is an old Mosque with foundations probably going back to the establishment of al-Ula in the 13th century AD. It seems to have been restored and still in use (judging by the loud speaker above the minaret). It...
Dirwas Restaurant: Bukhari rice specialty
MM212 Says: As is typical in remote parts of Arabia, there is nothing fancy at Dirwas Restaurant. It is popular with locals, particularly immigrants from south Asia. A novelty to me, which appears to be the norm in this part of Arabia, is a whole eating section on a raised, carpeted...
MM212 Says: Although there is a rumour that an airfield near al-Ula will open for commercial traffic in the future, at present there is no way to fly directly to the remote town. One must therefore drive (or maybe take a bus) from one of the distant airports around. The closest airport...
Manyana Says: al-Ula is a small town. The best way to get there is by a couch or your own car. It takes about 8 hours from Jeddah, 4 hours Medina and 2:30 from Khaybar.There are no actual buses operating on daily basis to al-Ula. You must arrange with a travel agency, and join a group to...
MM212 Says: Located 2.5 hours south of al-Ula, on the road to Medina, Khaybar is another ancient oasis town in the Hijaz with a lot of history. Although not developed for tourism, the town's old quarter remains as it has for centuries, albeit crumbling. Much like Old al-Ula, Khaybar's...
sjazeerah Says: It would be a pity not to walk and climb along the ancient Nabatean pilgrim paths. You can climb inside caves, climb up hills passing unfenced aramaic inscriptions. Hamid, the tourist guide of the Hotel, will encourage you to participate. - hiking shoes not required but...
Sandsurfing on Historical Hills
Manyana Says: In winter, it gets too cool to do sandsurfing on that historical hills just right off al-Ula city. This small town actually is a hilly area, surrounded by giagantic mountains and deserts. The desert sand is adorable, soft, cold and just flow smoothly if you pick up some in...
Plan a Al `Ula vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Al `Ula locals
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Turkish History and Ancient Ages
- al-Ula history goes back to further than the Ottoman colony. It was ruled by several ancient kingdoms; such as Daidan, Kingdom of Lahyan, Maen State, Nabateans and other. - Known among it people as...
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Once upon a time, at least 2100 years ago, there was a pretty nabatean girl called Buthaina. Her father was the owner of the above rockgrave / qasar. Buthaina was lucky. She raised up in a well...
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One of many oases in the Hijaz region of Arabia, al-Ula boasts unmatched natural beauty. Surrounded by red sand stone cliffs, the valley known as Wadi al-Qura contains endless green palm groves under...
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AL-OLA Although AL-Ola is a small city with not many inhabitants, its special historical significance has made it a major destination of researchers and archaeologists. It contains many...
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Al Ula is situated northwest of Saudi Arabia. It lies between a chain of mountains on its eastern and western sides. It is about 400 km north of Al Madinah. Al Ula had a biblical named “Dedan’” as...
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