In the golden heart of Saudi Arabia’s northwest desert lies AlUla, a destination both ancient and astonishing celebrated as the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and a sanctuary for history, culture, and natural beauty.

Here, over 7,000 years of human civilization have left their mark on towering tombs, sandstone cliffs, and monumental rock formations. The most legendary among them is Elephant Rock, rising an awe-inspiring 52 meters into the desert sky.

AlUla is more than a static relic; it is a living, breathing tapestry where heritage meets modern art, adventure intertwines with tranquility, and every vista inspires awe. Its lush AlUla Oasis, dotted with palm groves and fresh citrus orchards, feels worlds away from the surrounding dunes.

Contemporary installations fuse seamlessly with ancestral landscapes, while events like the Azimuth AlUla festival each September turn the desert into a stage for music and art. Luxury seekers can retreat to tented villas at Banyan Tree AlUla or unwind in the desert sanctuary of Habitas AlUla—both offering an immersion in understated opulence.

Experiences That Define AlUla

Hot Air Balloon Adventure

At dawn, AlUla’s desert awakens in a palette of soft pinks and fiery oranges. Floating silently above ancient rock formations during the Hot Air Balloon Festival reveals the enormity of the terrain and the delicate artistry of nature’s carving tools. It is, quite simply, a memory for the ages.

Camel Ride through Lush Trails

Among shaded paths of the oasis, camels sway rhythmically past palm fronds and citrus-laden trees. Riders breathe in fragrant air while learning about native flora—a sensory journey deep into AlUla’s fertile core.

Dune Buggy Thrills

For an adrenaline-fueled excursion, dune buggies race over rippling golden sands, skirting rocky outcrops. Each turn unveils fresh panoramas of the desert’s raw, untamed beauty.

The Dancing Rocks

In Raggasat Valley, nature’s sculptures stand like frozen dancers—wind, sand, and centuries shaping stone into fantastical forms. These “Dancing Rocks” are a photographer’s dream, casting shadows that tell ancient tales.

Zipline Excitement

High above Harrat Uwayrid’s black basalt cliffs, adventurers zip through open desert air with sweeping views beneath—a brief, exhilarating flight framed by geological drama.

Stargazing at the Star Party

In Al Gharameel, the universe comes close enough to touch. From traditional cushions, visitors watch the Milky Way spill across the sky while storytellers weave cosmic legends into the night.

Culinary Delights at Winter Park

Gourmet food trucks and locally inspired kiosks turn Winter Park into a festival of flavors—juicy burgers, sweet pastries, and artisan coffee alike shared among travelers and locals in a vibrant social setting.

Photoshoot at Maraya

The world’s largest mirrored building, Maraya reflects both Ashar Valley’s grandeur and the visitor’s own wonder. Its gleaming façade transforms with sunlight, making it one of the Middle East’s most photogenic landmarks.

Rock Art Exploration

At Jabal Ikmah, Al Aqra’a, and Naqsh Zuhayr, cliff faces tell the stories of ancient life through bold carvings and inscriptions. Guided by a Rawi, these silent chronicles gain voice, revealing millennia-old narratives.

Hiking Adventures

Trails weave through sandstone cliffs and volcanic peaks, offering hikes for all skill levels. Each path leads to vistas where the desert’s scale becomes humbling and its beauty inescapable.

Traditional Craft Immersion

In the Old Town’s Handicrafts Pavilion, artisans wield palm fronds and age-old techniques to create intricate wares—a chance for visitors to witness living heritage and take a piece of AlUla home.

In AlUla, time and terrain conspire to create an otherworldly stage. Whether drifting above dunes at sunrise, tracing ancient inscriptions, or savoring desert-inspired cuisine, every moment lingers—a testament to the magic of Saudi Arabia’s desert jewel.

Saudi Arabia has unveiled a new Package Visa pilot programme designed to make travel to the Kingdom easier by allowing eligible visitors to secure a tourist visa through approved travel and tourism service providers as part of a bundled travel package.

The initiative is a joint effort involving the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and the Insurance Authority. It forms part of the Kingdom's broader strategy to streamline entry procedures and enhance the visitor experience.

The Package Visa expands on earlier visa reforms, including the tourist e-Visa, visa on arrival, and Stopover Transit Visa. Together, these measures helped Saudi Arabia attract more than 29 million international visitors in 2025.

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said the programme demonstrates the Kingdom's commitment to making travel more convenient and accessible while strengthening partnerships across the tourism industry.

He said the new initiative enables travel providers to offer a more seamless visitor experience by combining visa processing with travel services, reflecting Saudi Arabia's continued focus on innovation and tourism growth.

During the pilot phase, eligible travellers can book complete travel packages through qualified providers, with each package including round-trip flights, accommodation at licensed hotels and the electronic tourist visa application. Providers may also add attractions, events and tourism experiences to create more comprehensive itineraries.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, the programme is expected to reduce administrative procedures for visitors while helping travel companies develop higher-value packages that encourage longer stays and increased tourism spending.

Participation in the pilot is limited to travel providers that meet strict operational standards, including offering digital booking platforms, round-the-clock technical support and dedicated customer service.

The launch comes as Saudi Arabia continues to record strong tourism growth. The Ministry of Tourism's 2025 Annual Statistical Report showed the Kingdom welcomed approximately 123 million domestic and international tourists last year, representing a 6% increase compared with 2024.

Tourism spending reached a record SR304 billion, up 7% year-on-year, while the sector accounted for 4.9% of Saudi Arabia's GDP in 2024, with its contribution continuing to expand in 2025.

The report also revealed that 29.3 million international visitors generated SR176.6 billion in inbound tourism spending, while 93.3 million domestic travellers spent SR127.1 billion. Non-religious travel represented around 52% of inbound overnight visits in 2025, compared with 44% in 2019.

Employment across Saudi Arabia's tourism sector reached nearly 1.03 million jobs in 2025. Women accounted for approximately 47% of Saudi nationals employed in tourism-related activities, a significant rise from 5% at the end of 2018.

Source: Saudi Gazette

The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has introduced a two-month communicative Arabic language programme for non-Arabic-speaking cabin crew employed by Saudia, marking another step in efforts to strengthen Arabic language proficiency in professional settings.

The initiative follows a cooperation agreement between the academy and the national airline aimed at improving workplace language skills. The course focuses on practical communication, enabling participants to use Arabic confidently in day-to-day operational situations while enhancing interactions with passengers and supporting efficient service delivery.

According to the academy, the programme forms part of its broader portfolio of specialised language initiatives developed in collaboration with organisations across multiple sectors. These programmes are designed to promote Arabic language learning and encourage its wider application in professional and institutional environments.

Earlier this month, the academy also participated in Saudi Arabia's pavilion at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair, where it highlighted a range of projects aimed at expanding the global reach of the Arabic language.

Visitors to the pavilion were introduced to the academy's Arabic language courses for non-native speakers, language qualification programmes, and ongoing work to advance Arabic digital content and computational language processing technologies.

Source: ARAB NEWS

The Saudi Culture Pavilion at Al-Tayebat International City of Science and Knowledge Museum in Jeddah is offering visitors an immersive journey through the Kingdom's cultural heritage, highlighting the traditions, craftsmanship and regional identities reflected in Saudi Arabia's historic attire.

Recognized as one of the country's leading cultural and educational attractions, the pavilion presents an extensive collection of traditional garments that illustrate the distinctive clothing styles developed across Saudi Arabia's regions over generations.

The museum complex consists of 12 heritage buildings constructed in the traditional Hijazi architectural style and houses more than 365 exhibition halls. A significant portion of its galleries is dedicated to showcasing regional costumes, textiles and handcrafted items, combining carefully preserved artifacts with detailed historical interpretation.

Exhibits guide visitors across the Kingdom's diverse cultural landscape, featuring clothing and accessories unique to each region.

The western and Hijazi section displays women's garments such as the zaboun, maharem headscarves and mudawwara, alongside men's daqla, sidiriyah waistcoat and Hijazi turban. The collection is presented against traditional carved wooden rawasheen, a defining feature of Jeddah's historic architecture.

The central and eastern regions are represented through elegant Al-Ahsa bishts woven with gold zari thread, as well as intricately embroidered jalabiyas that reflect the area's long-standing textile traditions.

In the southern gallery, brightly colored mijnab garments and shirts decorated with vibrant cane-thread embroidery are exhibited alongside aromatic floral garlands and traditional silver jewelry, highlighting the region's distinctive artistic heritage.

The northern collection features the mhawthal and heavy abayas designed to withstand the harsh desert climate, illustrating how clothing evolved to meet local environmental conditions.

Youssef Mohammed Kiki, the museum's general supervisor, said the garments serve as valuable historical records, documenting the lifestyles, occupations and environmental conditions of communities across different regions of Saudi Arabia.

He added that by preserving these rare collections, the museum aims to strengthen younger generations' appreciation of the Kingdom's cultural heritage while offering visitors a deeper understanding of its diverse traditions.

Source: ARAB NEWS

Saudi Arabia has introduced temporary travel restrictions affecting three African countries in response to the ongoing Ebola outbreak, implementing a series of precautionary public health measures aimed at preventing the virus from entering the Kingdom.

The Kingdom's Public Health Authority (Weqaya) announced on Thursday that travelers arriving directly from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and South Sudan will be prohibited from entering Saudi Arabia until further notice, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

In addition, Saudi authorities have suspended the issuance of all entry visas for individuals who have been present in any of the three affected countries during the 21 days preceding their arrival in Saudi Arabia, even if they travel through a third country.

Health authorities have also strengthened screening procedures for passengers arriving from Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville). Travelers from these countries will undergo health assessments at border entry points and be subject to enhanced disease surveillance measures.

Weqaya said Saudi Arabia has not recorded any Ebola infections since 2019.

According to the World Health Organization, Ebola was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976 and has an average case fatality rate of about 50 percent. The virus has claimed approximately 15,000 lives since its discovery.

Separately, French health authorities confirmed on Wednesday the country's first Ebola case after a doctor contracted the virus while serving on a humanitarian mission in the DRC. The physician has since been admitted to a specialized quarantine facility for treatment and monitoring.

Source: ARAB NEWS

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has taken action against 21 Umrah service providers, suspending them from offering services to pilgrims after identifying performance deficiencies and regulatory violations.

According to the ministry, the decision is based on evaluations conducted during the previous Umrah season, which highlighted a noticeable decline in service quality among several operators, along with breaches of established regulations governing the sector.

Of the companies affected, 15 were suspended due to low performance scores under the ministry’s approved assessment framework, while six others were penalized for violations that required formal corrective measures.

Officials said the move forms part of early preparations for the upcoming Umrah season and reflects ongoing efforts to ensure that pilgrims receive consistently high standards of service.

The ministry explained that its evaluation system relies on a set of operational and supervisory indicators designed to measure compliance and service quality. These mechanisms are intended to strengthen competition among service providers, raise industry standards, and support the broader objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which includes enhancing the experience of pilgrims visiting the Kingdom and the Prophet’s Mosque.

Reaffirming its regulatory stance, the ministry emphasized that it maintains a zero-tolerance approach toward any shortcomings that could affect service quality or the rights of pilgrims. It added that continuous monitoring and evaluation of Umrah companies remain central to improving the sector and ensuring sustained service development.