AlUla: A beacon of arts and culture in the desert

AlUla, a desert oasis in north west Saudi Arabia, has always been a crossroads for nature, heritage and art. Flourishing civilisations have existed here for millennia, leaving behind a rich legacy that not only shaped the landscape but also the way people live today.

Now, the region is being transformed into the world’s largest living museum through an ambitious project known as Journey Through Time.

Five unique districts are being created as part of the Masterplan, each centred around a different heritage site. Bringing these to life is a cluster of 15 new cultural spaces - categorised under the themes of knowledge, immersion and creativity - that each highlight a different aspect of AlUla.

Under the pillar of knowledge for example, visitors can learn about the history of the region through displays at the Kingdoms Institute, Dadan Interpretive Centre or Jabal Ikmah Interpretive Centre.

Making the most of AlUla’s natural landscapes are the immersion experiences, like the Hegra Museum and the Nabataean Theatre, that really give you a sense of where you are.

And through the lens of creativity, you can see how the artistic side of AlUla has developed and evolved through time at the Oasis Living Gardens, or in the Arts District, where inspiration and imagination will push the region into the future.

But while all the cultural spaces are assigned a primary theme, they will weave in the other elements as well according to Kate Hall-Tipping, Chief Museums, Arts & Cultural Planning Officer for the Royal Commission for AlUla, who was among those who helped to design these spaces.

Take for example the Perspectives Galleries, the contemporary art museum in the AlUla Old Town district.

By its very nature, it’s designed to showcase the creative side of AlUla. But through its semi-open air design - envisioned as “an archipelago of pavilions that are nestled within the oasis” - it creates an immersive experience that’s in harmony with the landscape. And through the curation of the artworks, visitors will gain a new appreciation for the history and traditions of AlUla.

Ms Hall-Tipping explained: “You will always have the experience of where you are within this Cultural Oasis - with this nature, with the history - as you experience this contemporary art museum.”

Indeed, whichever cultural space you explore, it will always have the identity of AlUla stamped on it - that of a storied civilisation shaped by nature and time. But there’s always an international dimension that’s core to the identity of AlUla, too - because this ancient land has always been about different cultures and even civilisations connecting, learning and influencing each other.