AL ULA: Omani journalists visiting Al Ula as part of an international media delegation have praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ancient Kingdoms Festival 2025 for its exceptional presentation of history, civilisation and immersive tourism experiences, hosted under the 'Al Ula Moments' programme.
The media tour brought together prominent journalists and media professionals from across the Gulf and Arab world, with Omani representatives Ali al Badi and Moath al Saidi expressing admiration for the destination’s unique blend of heritage and luxury.
Al Badi described Al Ula as “a complete sensory experience where culture meets history and hospitality merges with luxury,” commending the warm reception by local residents and the professionalism of the young staff who demonstrated strong knowledge of Al Ula’s history.
Echoing these sentiments, Moath al Saidi noted that Al Ula reflects Saudi Arabia’s ambitious cultural vision, stating that the harmony between historic landmarks such as Hegra and Jabal Ikmah and modern hospitality offerings presents a powerful narrative of identity and ancient civilisation to the world.
The delegation toured major heritage sites, including Tantoura, Al Ula Old Town, Hegra, Jabal Ikmah and Habitas. At Hegra, they witnessed mesmerising drone shows narrating tales of ancient kingdoms, while in the Old Town, they explored traditional alleyways, mud-brick houses, palm oases and the historic Incense Trail, gaining insight into age-old crafts and lifestyles.
They also visited Habitas, a model of sustainable luxury hospitality, and explored Al Hijr to understand Nabataean history through its inscriptions, rock carvings and distinctive architectural remains.
At Jabal Ikmah, regarded as a key cultural and religious centre of the Dadanite civilisation dating back to the 6th century, the team observed a vast collection of inscriptions in Dadanite, Lihyanite, Thamudic and Nabataean scripts.
The visit featured culinary experiences at renowned restaurants, including Somewhere, Annabels, Jontos and Fayrouz, offering a refined fusion of international and Middle Eastern cuisines.
This media engagement forms part of the Royal Commission for Al Ula’s strategy to position Al Ula as a global cultural and tourism destination, enhancing international media coverage in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and the development of the Kingdom’s tourism and cultural content sectors. - ONA
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