An image of the Unesco Heritage site Hegra at night by Gilles Bensimon. The fashion photographer has captured AlUla in a new book titled 'A Dream of AlUla'. All photos: Gilles Bensimon
An image of the Unesco Heritage site Hegra at night by Gilles Bensimon. The fashion photographer has captured AlUla in a new book titled 'A Dream of AlUla'. All photos: Gilles Bensimon
The 215-page book celebrates the history of AlUla.
The 215-page book celebrates the history of AlUla.
Bensimon gives readers a glimpse into the little-known geological wonder through his photography.
Bensimon gives readers a glimpse into the little-known geological wonder through his photography.
Red sandstone natural formations and Jabal Alfil (Elephant Rock).
Red sandstone natural formations and Jabal Alfil (Elephant Rock).
The book shows the magnificence of AlUla's landscape from lush green oasis, vast expanses and drifting sand to basalt uplands.
The book shows the magnificence of AlUla's landscape from lush green oasis, vast expanses and drifting sand to basalt uplands.
Bensimon is the former international creative director of Elle Magazine.
Bensimon is the former international creative director of Elle Magazine.
The photographer has worked with models and celebrities including Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Madonna and Elle Macpherson.
The photographer has worked with models and celebrities including Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Madonna and Elle Macpherson.
Published by Rizzoli New York, the book features a foreword by French art historian Diana Picasso.
Published by Rizzoli New York, the book features a foreword by French art historian Diana Picasso.
'A Dream of AlUla' is on sale now.
'A Dream of AlUla' is on sale now.
The people of AlUla also feature in the book.
The people of AlUla also feature in the book.
AlUla is home to the Unesco world heritage site, Hegra, where exceptionally preserved tombs of the Nabataean age show elaborate facades cut out of sandstone outcrops.
AlUla is home to the Unesco world heritage site, Hegra, where exceptionally preserved tombs of the Nabataean age show elaborate facades cut out of sandstone outcrops.
Located on the ancient Incense Route, AlUla has been described as a living museum with a history that features Lihyanite, Dadanite, Nabataean, and Pre-Islamic times.
Located on the ancient Incense Route, AlUla has been described as a living museum with a history that features Lihyanite, Dadanite, Nabataean, and Pre-Islamic times.
Millennia-old inscriptions at AlUla.
Millennia-old inscriptions at AlUla.
Some photos are captured in black in white while others are in colour.
Some photos are captured in black in white while others are in colour.

Arts & Culture

What is the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, the newest addition to AlUla Moments?

The event unpacks the history of the significant cities that formed Saudi Arabia

Razmig Bedirian
Razmig Bedirian

August 10, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

A new festival has been added to AlUla Moments, the annual initiative transforming the ancient desert city in Saudi Arabia with art, music, food and wellness.

Running from November 11 to 27, the Ancient Kingdoms Festival will focus on three interconnected, historic oases — namely AlUla, Khaybar and Tayma. The event will explore the history of these cities, showing how they served as crossroads for explorers, artisans and intellectuals for millennia.

A dense ‘funerary avenue’ flanked by Bronze Age tombs, leading out of a wadi near Khaybar in north-west Saudi Arabia.
A dense ‘funerary avenue’ flanked by Bronze Age tombs, leading out of a wadi near Khaybar in north-west Saudi Arabia.

The AlUla region is located more than 1,000km from Riyadh. Historically, it lay on the incense trade route, a land and sea network spanning the Mediterranean, north-eastern Africa, Arabia and India.

The region surrounding the walled city of AlUla, established in around the 6th century BC, hosts remnants of civilisations dating back more than 7,000 years.

The city of Hegra, the second-biggest Nabataean city after Petra, is located in AlUla and marks the first Unesco World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia. Dating back to the 1st century BC, it served as the southern capital of the Nabataean kingdom, believed to have stretched from Yemen to Damascus and western Iraq to the Sinai Desert.

A new Guinness World Record for largest hot air balloon glow show was set in the area in March — with a show of 142 brightly-lit balloons taking to the skies.

The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest hot air balloon glow show was broken in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on March 1, 2022. All photos: Guinness World Records
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest hot air balloon glow show was broken in AlUla, Saudi Arabia on March 1, 2022. All photos: Guinness World Records
As part of AlUla Moments, the record was broken on March 1 with a show of 142 brightly-lit hot air balloons taking to the skies near Hegra.
As part of AlUla Moments, the record was broken on March 1 with a show of 142 brightly-lit hot air balloons taking to the skies near Hegra.
The colourful display took place in the Unesco World Heritage Site in the early hours of the morning.
The colourful display took place in the Unesco World Heritage Site in the early hours of the morning.
The record was previously set in AlUla in 2019 with a show of 100 hot air balloons during the Winter at Tantora festival.
The record was previously set in AlUla in 2019 with a show of 100 hot air balloons during the Winter at Tantora festival.
The glow show was part of AlUla Skies, a new festival which includes sunrise and sunset hot air balloon experiences that feature around 150 balloons floating over the ancient site daily.
The glow show was part of AlUla Skies, a new festival which includes sunrise and sunset hot air balloon experiences that feature around 150 balloons floating over the ancient site daily.
The display marked the Royal Commission for AlUla and Saudi Arabian Ballooning Federation's announcement that AlUla has been named "the capital city of hot air ballooning activities" in Saudi Arabia.
The display marked the Royal Commission for AlUla and Saudi Arabian Ballooning Federation's announcement that AlUla has been named "the capital city of hot air ballooning activities" in Saudi Arabia.
A colourful display of hot air balloons in AlUla.
A colourful display of hot air balloons in AlUla.
A hot air balloon soaring in Hegra.
A hot air balloon soaring in Hegra.

Other historical sites in the area include the stone city of Dadan, the capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms; AlUla Old Town; and Jabal Ikmah, a mountain inscribed with pre-Arabic texts, described as an open-air library.

The Ancient Kingdoms Festival will unpack the historical significance of these sites — becoming the third to take place in the 2022 AlUla calendar.

AlUla will first host the returning Azimuth Festival on the weekend of Saudi National Day. The three-day event will take place from September 22 to 24 and feature regional and global entertainers, artists and chefs. The festival will include performances and artworks exhibited around the heritage sites in AlUla and chefs adding fresh takes on Saudi cuisine. The line-up is yet to be revealed.

The Wellness Festival will then follow from September 29 to October 16. The event, which was inaugurated in March, will take place in a spa, fitness and wellness centre called the Five Senses Sanctuary.

After the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, Winter at Tantora will be returning from December 21 to January 21, the event concludes the AlUla Moments calendar with intimate performances by internationally acclaimed musicians, as well as a series of events in theatre, fashion and arts.

Brief scores:

Everton 0

Leicester City 1

Vardy 58'

Race 3

Produced: Salman Khan Films and Tips Films
Director: Remo D’Souza
Cast: Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Salem
Rating: 2.5 stars

While you're here
Tickets

Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.

Recent winners

2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)

2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)

2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)

2007 Grace Bijjani  (Mexico)

2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)

2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)

2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)

2011 Maria Farah (Canada)

2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)

2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)              

2014 Lia Saad  (UAE)

2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)

2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)

2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)

2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)

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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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The biog

Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.

It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.

They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.

Lexus LX700h specs

Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor

Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm

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While you're here
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While you're here
What is Reform?

Reform is a right-wing, populist party led by Nigel Farage, a former MEP who won a seat in the House of Commons last year at his eighth attempt and a prominent figure in the campaign for the UK to leave the European Union.

It was founded in 2018 and originally called the Brexit Party.

Many of its members previously belonged to UKIP or the mainstream Conservatives.

After Brexit took place, the party focused on the reformation of British democracy.

Former Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson became its first MP after defecting in March 2024.

The party gained support from Elon Musk, and had hoped the tech billionaire would make a £100m donation. However, Mr Musk changed his mind and called for Mr Farage to step down as leader in a row involving the US tycoon's support for far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson who is in prison for contempt of court.

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On Women's Day
How to apply for a drone permit
  • Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
  • Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
  • Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
  • Submit their request
What are the regulations?
  • Fly it within visual line of sight
  • Never over populated areas
  • Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
  • Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
  • Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
  • Should have a live feed of the drone flight
  • Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Updated: August 11, 2022, 6:08 AM`
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