AlUla: Ancient Kingdoms Festival and Archaeological Marvels in Saudi Arabia

AlUla, a vast canyon in the Arabian desert, is a burgeoning cultural destination blending ancient heritage with contemporary architecture. The valley hosts over 37,000 archaeological sites, including Dadan, the ancient capital of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms (1st millennium BCE), which controlled the Incense Route. Hegra, a Nabatean necropolis with over 100 rock-cut tombs, became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. Wadi AlNaam (Valley of Ostriches) and Jabal Ikmah feature ancient rock inscriptions. The Old City of AlUla, dating to the 1st century AH (7th century CE), serves as the hub for the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, which returns from November 7 to 30, 2024. The festival also involves the nearby oases of Khaybar and Tayma. Modern landmarks include the mirrored Maraya concert hall (by Italian studio Gio Forma) and the Wadi AlFann land art project. The region's first human traces date to the Paleolithic period (c. 200,000 years ago).