A Full Guide to Al Ula

Al Ula is a beautiful desert oasis with an incredible landscape full of stunning rock formations. It’s a new city being developed for tourism and is perfect for someone looking for a new, exciting yet relaxing place to explore. Before I get into my recommendations, I need to give you one very important piece of advice. If you go to Al Ula you NEED YOUR OWN CAR. Do not go here with a plan to rely on taxis or ride-share services. I did this, and it was extremely unreliable and made me miss out on some of my plans. You can either book a private driver for the whole time or you can rent a car. *If you rent a car, you need to have an international license.

Now, on to the fun stuff…

Where to Eat

1. Maraya Social

   This is the best restaurant in Al Ula. It offers a fine dining experience created by Michelin star chef Jason Atherton. The restaurant sits on the rooftop of a beautiful building that is fully covered in mirrors to reflect the landscape around it. It truly is a piece of art. I ate here twice - once on the a la carte menu and once on the set menu. Both were delicious. Since it is a rooftop, it’s quite popular to go at sunset. Below the restaurant is also a music venue called Maraya, so many people go for dinner and a show.
   *A few pro tips: It’s only open for dinner; You need a reservation; It’s located inside the same complex as Habitas; It is not open during the summer due to the excessive heat in Al Ula

2. OKTO

   A new Greek restaurant in Al Ula on top of a cliff overlooking the dessert. This is another spot that is beautiful at sunset because of its view from above. The combination of delicious food and incredible setting make this a must do during your stay.
   *Tips: Reservation required; It’s a bit of a drive to get to, so make sure you give yourself enough time to drive

3. Somewhere

   A more relaxed vibe than Maraya or Okto, Somewhere is in the Old Town. Request a table on the patio to enjoy your meal next to the fountain. This is a great place to end your day exploring the Old Town with great food and a serene setting.

4. Pink Camel Boutique

   This is a good place to start your day with breakfast or brunch. They have delicious dishes and great juices and coffee.
   *Tips: Google maps is still updating since Al Ula is new, so it might take you down a road that doesn’t exist, so give yourself some extra time when driving here in case you need to turn around and try another route. Or you might end up walking down a dirt path through the desert asking a goat farmer for help like I did (haha)

Where to Stay

1. Habitas

   Habitas just might be my favorite hotel group in the world, and they are actually the whole reason I went to Al Ula. I was a big fan of theirs after staying at another location and when I saw them post videos of the new hotel in Al Ula, I was so blown away I had to go! The hotel is in a valley surrounded by rock formations. The architecture is built in a way to blend into nature. There are art installations throughout the property, a gorgeous pool, and a great restaurant. They have all kinds of wellness activities included in your booking - I did an amazingly relaxing sound bath. The spa is a whole other level as well. It was the most beautiful place I have ever had a massage. They also have electric bikes for free you can ride around the property, or if you’d prefer they will take you where you want to go on a golf cart. To top off everything at this hotel, the service is impeccable. Everyone who works there goes above and beyond to make sure you have an enjoyable experience. This is one of the best hotels I have ever stayed at anywhere in the world so far and is worth every penny.
   *Tip: If you are looking for a more affordable option, they also have the Habitas Caravan

2. Banyan Tree

   Banyan Tree opened just before I arrived in Al Ula, and I didn’t stay at it but it is the second best option after Habitas as it also offers a high-end experience and is in the same relative area as Habitas, in a beautiful setting among the rock formations.

What to Do

1. Hegra

   My favorite thing I did while in Al Ula was going to the UNESCO World Heritage site Hegra. This is an area with ancient tombs that are carved into the rock formations that have been there for thousands of years. You can book a bus, a jeep, or a horse carriage ride to visit. Any of the options are good choices, I did the bus. You’ll have a Rawi who will guide you and tell you about each destination you stop at. I did the 2 hour tour in the afternoon, so we also saw the sunset from out in the desert and it was gorgeous. I highly recommend seeing Hegra if you visit Al Ula, and please make sure to follow the instructions your guide gives you in order to respect and protect this sacred land. You can book your tour here.

2. Elephant Rock

   Something fun to do in Al Ula is to visit Elephant Rock, also known as Jabal Al Fil. There is no booking required here, it’s an open area that you can simply drive up to and park then follow the walking path to a seating area next to the large rock formation that is shaped like an elephant’s trunk. There is a small restaurant, cute seating areas dug into the ground, and hookah available. I recommend going at night when the rocks are lit up and enjoying a hookah.

3. Old Town

   Old Town is filled with shops and restaurants. It’s fun to visit here in the evening and walk around and check everything out. You can pop in and see what each shop has to offer. There’s also a food truck area where you can grab a quick bite. Some traditional music is sometimes played in the square as well, and my favorite thing about the old town is seeing the architecture of the old buildings with a backdrop of incredible rock formations and bright, shining stars lighting up the night sky.

4. Maraya

   Another amazing memory I will keep from my time in Al Ula was seeing Mai Farouk at Maraya. This is the concert venue that is in the same building as the restaurant Maraya Social. If there is a concert during your trip, I highly recommend going. The venue gets top tier performers and is a beautiful space. The back wall of the stage behind the singer opens up and the mirrors turn transparent so you can see the rock formations as the backdrop to the performance. The show I went to was sold out and the energy from the crowd was riveting!
   *Tip: Shows tend to sell out, so book your tickets in advance.

Getting There

There is a small airport ULH in Al Ula that is about a 30 minute drive from the hotels. As the city becomes more popular, they are adding more and more flights to this airport. The other option is MED, but this is quite a long drive. I flew into ULH and then home from MED, and I recommend trying to do ULH if at all possible. The drive to MED was long and made for a rough travel day, so I would try to avoid it.

Also, one more reminder. You NEED to book a car for your trip. You can either hire a private driver or book a rental car to pick up at the airport. The roads in Al Ula are small and do not have a lot of traffic, so don’t be worried about driving in an unfamiliar place. I really do not recommend relying on taxis or ride share apps during your stay.

Al Ula is a beautiful place with welcoming people who are excited to share memories with visitors. I really loved my experience here and recommend it for anyone looking for a new part of the world to discover!