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Voykit pocket guide · Saudi Arabia
AlUla
العلا
Go to AlUla for two to three nights for Hegra's rock tombs and the desert scenery, best from October to March.
AlUla is an oasis region in north-west Saudi Arabia with Hegra, the country's first UNESCO World Heritage site. It also has the old town, sandstone canyons and rock art at Jabal Ikmah. Many sites require pre-booked tours, and the region is still building out its tourism infrastructure.
- Country
- Saudi Arabia
- Local name
- العلا
- Best months
- Oct–Mar
- Avoid
- Jun–Sep (very hot)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SAR
- Money
- SAR (riyal) is pegged to the US dollar at about 3.75.
- SIM and data
- STC, Mobily and Zain sell tourist SIMs at arrivals; passport and fingerprint registration are required.
- Emergency
- Unified emergency 911 · Police 999 · Ambulance (Red Crescent) 997 · Civil defence (fire) 998 · Traffic accidents 993
- Plugs
- Types G, C, F · 230 V · 60 Hz · UK-style three-pin (G) is the standard; older buildings may have European sockets. Bring a universal adapter.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10% if no service charge; small change at cafés.; Ride-hailing / taxi: Round up or tip in the app.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: SAR 5–10.; Guide / driver day: SAR 50–100 guide; SAR 30–50 driver.; Fuel station attendant: SAR 2–5 if they clean the windows.
- Water
- Tap water is desalinated and treated; most people drink bottled water, sold everywhere for SAR 1–2.
- Toilets
- Western toilets with a hand shower in malls, hotels and mosques; squat toilets at older fuel stations. Malls and mosques are the free public options.
Get in
By air
- ULH · AlUla International (Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz)
- Small airport; flights from Riyadh and Jeddah
Get around
Sights are spread across the valley, so book tours or hire a car with driver; check the official operator for current site access.
See and do
Known for
- Hegra (Madain Salih) tombs
- Old Town
- Elephant Rock
- Jabal Ikmah inscriptions
Sleep
- AlUla Old Town area
- Walkable restaurants and the heritage quarter.
- Desert resorts
- Remote luxury stays; a vehicle or tour is needed for everything.
Language
Arabic is the only official language, written right to left. English is widely used in airports, hotels, malls and among younger Saudis; many service workers speak Hindi/Urdu, Tagalog or Bengali. A few Arabic greetings go a long way.
- Hello: as-salamu alaykum; reply wa alaykum as-salam. Thank you: shukran.
- Street addresses use the National Address short code; a map pin is the reliable way.
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say as-salamu alaykum; wait for a woman to offer her hand first; avoid: Hugging or touching the opposite sex
- Hospitality: Accept coffee and dates; eat with the right hand; avoid: Refusing all offers or showing the soles of your feet
- Prayer times: Wait quietly when shops close; step aside for people praying; avoid: Walking in front of people praying; loud music near mosques
- Dress: Loose, covering clothes in public; headscarf in mosques; avoid: Shorts, sleeveless tops and swimwear in town
- Photos: Ask before photographing people; avoid: Photographing women, families or official buildings
- Conversation: Talk about family, food, football, travel; avoid: Criticising religion, the royal family or the government
- Queues and sections: Follow signs for family and women's sections where they exist; avoid: Entering women-only areas
Scams and watch-outs
- Book Hegra and most experiences ahead through the official platform.
- Desert nights are cold in winter and days hot in summer.
- Flights are limited; book well ahead in the Oct–Mar peak season.
- Photography may be restricted at some archaeological sites; follow guide instructions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for AlUla yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hegra (Madain Salih) tombs
- Old Town
- Elephant Rock
- Jabal Ikmah inscriptions
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Experience AlUla: www.experiencealula.com/
- Wikivoyage — AlUla: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Al-Ula
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/alula). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.