AlUla history

The history of AlUla is rooted in deep antiquity, transforming this oasis into one of the oldest centres of civilisation on the Arabian Peninsula. This place has served as a crossroads of cultures and trade routes for millennia.

Foundation and First Mentions

The territory of modern AlUla has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times, but it formed as a significant urban and political centre around the 6th century BCE. In ancient texts, including biblical sources, the city is mentioned under the name Dedan.

Initially, it served as the capital of the Kingdom of Dedan, and subsequently became the centre of the powerful Kingdom of Lihyan, which dominated the region for several centuries prior to the arrival of the Nabataeans.

Key Factors of Formation

The transformation of the settlement into a thriving city was driven by a unique combination of natural and economic factors:

• Geographical Location: The city is located in the fertile Wadi AlQura valley. The presence of rich underground water reserves allowed for the creation of a flourishing oasis capable of sustaining the population and travellers amidst the harsh desert.
• Trade: AlUla became a key hub on the legendary "Incense Road". Caravans transporting precious frankincense, myrrh, and spices from southern Arabia to Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Mediterranean inevitably stopped here for rest and trade.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

The economy of the ancient city was built on transit trade, toll collection, and developed agriculture. Local inhabitants mastered irrigation technologies, cultivating dates, grains, and citrus crops.

The cultural heritage of the early period is distinguished by its originality. The inhabitants left behind thousands of rock inscriptions in the Dedanitic and Lihyanite languages, which today help historians reconstruct the picture of the past. It was also here that the tradition of monumental stone architecture was born, most vividly manifested in the rock-cut tombs resembling the famous Petra.

Major Historical Milestones

The history of AlUla is a chronicle of shifting civilisations, from ancient kingdoms to a modern tourism hub. Below are the key moments in the development of this unique region.

• 6th Century BCE — The rise of the Kingdom of Dedan (later Lihyan), when the oasis becomes an important trading hub on the Incense Road.
• 1st Century BCE — The Nabataeans establish Hegra (Mada'in Salih) as their second capital south of Petra.
• 106 CE — The Roman Empire annexes the Nabataean Kingdom, including the territory of Hegra, turning it into the province of Arabia Petraea.
• 630 CE — Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) visits the AlUla valley on his way to the Battle of Tabuk, marking the importance of this place in Islamic history.
• 13th Century — Foundation of AlUla Old Town (Ad-Deerah), built from the stones of ancient ruins to protect the oasis inhabitants.
• 14th Century — The famous traveller Ibn Battuta visits the city and describes it as a prosperous settlement with reliable caravan routes.
• 1900–1908 — Construction of the Hijaz Railway section and the opening of a station in AlUla, facilitating the journey for pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah.
• 1980s — The last residents leave the mudbrick houses of the Old Town, moving to modern neighbourhoods nearby.
• 2008 — The archaeological site of Hegra becomes the first property in Saudi Arabia to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• 2017 — Establishment of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to transform the region into a global centre for culture and tourism.
• 2019 — Saudi Arabia officially opens AlUla to international tourists, launching the "Winter at Tantora" festival.
• 2021 — Unveiling of the "Journey Through Time" masterplan, aimed at sustainable development and the preservation of the valley's historical heritage.

Stages of AlUla's Transformation

The development of AlUla can be traced through changing eras, each of which radically altered the appearance, economy, and cultural significance of this place. Below are the key milestones that defined the fate of the oasis.

• Rise as a Capital of Trade Routes (Dedan and Lihyan Period)

  The transformation of the oasis from an agrarian settlement into a political and economic centre. The city became a key node on the "Incense Road," leading to the formation of an organised urban structure and the development of writing (Dedanitic language).

• Nabataean Urbanisation and Architectural Flourishing (Hegra)

  The creation of Hegra as the second capital of the Nabataean Kingdom introduced unique urban planning solutions: a complex hydraulic system for water harvesting and monumental rock-cut architecture, which became the region's hallmark.

• Consolidation of the Islamic City (Ad-Deerah)

  In the 13th century, residents built the fortified Old Town using stones from antique ruins. This was an example of adaptive urban planning: dense construction and narrow streets created natural defence and coolness, forming a tight-knit community.

• 20th Century Infrastructure Breakthrough (Hijaz Railway)

  The construction of the railway station in the early 1900s connected the isolated oasis with Damascus and Madinah. This event temporarily shifted the city's economy from caravan trade to serving pilgrims.

• Global Recognition of Heritage (UNESCO Status)

  The inclusion of Hegra in the World Heritage List in 2008 was a turning point, shifting the focus from agriculture to the preservation of historical memory. AlUla began to be perceived not just as a provincial town, but as a site of global significance.

• Strategic Reimagining (Creation of RCU)

  The establishment of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in 2017 marked the beginning of centralised management of the region's development. The city's economy began a complete restructuring to meet the needs of elite and cultural tourism.

• "Journey Through Time" Masterplan

  The modern stage of urban planning, aimed at creating a "living museum." The plan involves dividing the valley into five cultural districts, introducing eco-friendly transport (tram line), and integrating luxury infrastructure into the natural landscape without harming the environment.

Architectural Chronicle: Stone, Mud, and Mirrors

The architectural appearance of AlUla is unique in that it does not follow classical European canons but reflects human adaptation to the harsh desert conditions. Urban development here has journeyed from carving monuments inside mountains to erecting "invisible" buildings that dissolve into the landscape.

Ancient World: Nabataean Classicism

During the heyday of the Nabataean Kingdom (1st century BCE — 1st century CE), architecture served as a demonstration of power and status. The masters of Hegra created a unique synthesis of Eastern and Western traditions.

• Era: Antiquity (Nabataean Kingdom).
• Style: Rock-cut architecture with Hellenistic elements.
• Features: Tomb facades were adorned with elements characteristic of Greek and Roman temples (columns, triangular pediments, friezes), but with the addition of Egyptian and Assyrian motifs (crowstep battlements).
• Iconic Landmark: The Tomb of Qasr al-Farid ("The Lonely Castle") — a monumental structure carved into a solitary rock, striking in its scale and precision of carving.

Middle Ages and Modern Era: Vernacular Architecture

With the advent of the Islamic era and shifting trade routes, priorities changed. Residents shifted to building with available materials, creating a dense urban environment for protection and comfort.

• Era: Islamic Period (13th to 20th century).
• Style: Traditional mudbrick (adobe) style.
• Features: Use of unbaked brick and palm beams. Houses were built tightly against one another, forming a unified city wall for fortification. Narrow covered streets created natural ventilation and shade.
• Iconic Landmark: AlUla Old Town (Ad-Deerah) — a labyrinth of nearly 900 houses, overlooked by the ancient Musa bin Nusayr Fort.

Contemporary: Contextual Modernism and Land Art

Today, AlUla is transforming into an open-air museum, where new architecture seeks not to dominate but to accentuate the grandeur of nature.

• Era: 21st Century (Vision 2030 Strategy).
• Style: Modern minimalism, eco-architecture, land art.
• Features: Integration of buildings into rock massifs or the use of reflective surfaces for visual merging with the desert. Principles of sustainable development and respect for historical context.
• Iconic Landmark: The Maraya Concert Hall. This is the world's largest mirrored building, the facade of which completely reflects the surrounding cliffs, making the modern structure practically invisible amidst the Ashar Valley.

Prominent Figures in the History of AlUla

The history of the oasis is inextricably linked with the names of kings, commanders, prophets, and explorers who left their mark in the stone and chronicles of this region. Below are key figures who influenced the fate and renown of AlUla.

Rulers and Historical Figures of Antiquity

• Aretas IV Philopatris (Harith IV)
  King of Nabataea (approx. 9 BCE — 40 CE)
  The most powerful ruler of the Nabataean Kingdom. It was during his reign that Hegra (Mada'in Salih) experienced its architectural golden age. Most of the monumental tombs with carved facades were created by his order or during his reign, turning the city into the empire's second capital.
• Hinat, daughter of Wahbu
  Nabataean Noblewoman (1st century CE)
  A noble woman whose name has been preserved thanks to an inscription on one of the tombs in Hegra. She has become a symbol of modern archaeology in AlUla: in 2023, scientists reconstructed her appearance from a discovered skull, giving a "face" to the ancient Nabataean civilisation.
• Musa ibn Nusayr
  Commander and Statesman of the Umayyad Caliphate (640–716 CE)
  A legendary Arab military leader. Although there is no direct evidence of his long-term residence here, the main citadel of AlUla Old Town bears his name (Musa ibn Nusayr Fort). It is believed he stayed here or strengthened the outpost during his campaigns.

Religious Figures and Travellers

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
  The Prophet of Islam (570–632 CE)
  In 630 CE, while heading to the Battle of Tabuk, the Prophet and his army passed through the AlUla valley (Wadi AlQura). Historical sources note that he forbade drinking water from the wells of Hegra (the lands of the Thamud people) but pointed to the spring from which the She-Camel of Prophet Saleh drank, thereby defining the sacred geography of the place.
• Ibn Battuta
  Famous Traveller and Merchant (1304–1377 CE)
  Visited AlUla in the 14th century during the Hajj. In his writings, he described the city as an important and safe stopping place for caravans, noting the loyalty of the local inhabitants and the presence of abundant gardens with date palms.

European Explorers ("Discovery" for the West)

• Charles Montagu Doughty
  English Poet and Traveller (1843–1926)
  One of the first Europeans to describe this region in detail in the modern era. In 1876, he joined a caravan of pilgrims and lived for some time in a tower at Mada'in Salih. His work "Travels in Arabia Deserta" revealed the existence of Nabataean monuments in Saudi Arabia to the Western world.
• Antonin Jaussen and Raphaël Savignac
  French Dominican Archaeologists (Early 20th Century)
  Pioneers of scientific archaeology in the region. In 1907–1910, they conducted the first systematic expedition to Hegra, producing detailed photographs, sketches, and squeezes of inscriptions. Their fundamental work "Mission archéologique en Arabie" still serves as a base for researchers.