Introduction to Alula, Saudi Arabia

Alula, a unique region in Saudi Arabia, was previously closed to tourists. However, since 2019, the country has started issuing tourist visas, allowing visitors to explore its fantastic landscapes, similar to Utah and Arizona. The region is being developed for tourism, with events like the Tantora Festival, and is expected to become the main attraction in Saudi Arabia, showcasing its historic and natural beauty to the world.

Geography and Infrastructure

The region, comparable in size to Belgium or Maryland, features sandstone rocks shaped by erosion and time into unique forms, resembling art installations. Notable attractions include the elephant mount and a massive bottle-shaped hole in the rocks. The area’s beautiful landscapes are being supported by infrastructure development to attract tourists, including accommodations such as Bedouin tents and a trailer park in a picturesque valley.

• Airstream trailers are used as fully-fledged hotels with amenities like air conditioning, fridge, stove, bathroom, and two beds, as well as a terrace.
• Pop-up restaurants serving food throughout the festival, with some restaurants seamlessly integrated into the surroundings, complete with ancient rock drawings.

Tantora Festival and Events

The festival’s infrastructure, including the Mariah building, is top-notch, with long bars, waiters, and chefs from around the world, and offers stunning views. A fully mirrored building in Saudi Arabia serves as a 500-person concert hall and blends harmoniously into the local landscape, making it a photogenic spot.

• The Desert X exhibition, featuring 14 installations by global artists, runs for three months and has been moved to Saudi Arabia.
• A tight concert schedule with top artists performing weekly over three months, including Craig David and Lionel Richie.
• A polo tournament and a hot air balloon festival are also part of the entertainment available during the festival.

Historical Significance and Preservation

The desert’s historical significance as a trading route is highlighted, with Saudi Arabia offering a rich history and ancient objects over 6,000 years old, particularly in the Alula area, where excavations are still ongoing. Excavations in a historic region began only half a year ago, yet over 22,000 new sites have been discovered, adding to the existing 600 monuments.

• The area is rich in history, with ancient inscriptions and sites like the “Open Library” containing thousands of writings in the “Data Knight” language.
• The ancient necropolis of Medaine Soleil, which features 138 rocky tombs, with more being discovered, similar to Jordan’s Petra.

Unique Heritage Sites and Experiences

A unique heritage site in Saudi Arabia, previously inaccessible to many, is now open and features an impressive display, including a “lonely castle” that becomes an art object during a festival with a show of 300 synchronized drones, accompanied by ambient music and other attractions.

• Winter is the most interesting time in Alula, a desert oasis, as it’s the only period when the desert blossoms.
• The area is full of life, with water gathering in reservoirs and fertile lands, even allowing fruits to grow.
• Alula is home to a unique old town, built 800 years ago, which was fully conserved after being abandoned in 1983 and is now a monument of ancient life, rarely accessible to anyone.

Personal Experiences and Impressions

The speaker describes their experience in Alula, comparing it to Chernobyl due to its abandoned streets. They then discuss the entertainment available during a festival, including flying in a retro World War II plane, describing it as loud and exhilarating. Overall, they are impressed by Alula and its rich history.

Key Vocabulary

Watch The Video

Vocabulary Quiz

1. Which word means ‘a natural or artificial hole in a rock’?

A) Monument
B) Installation
C) Bottle-shaped hole
D) Valley

2. What is the term for ‘a person who travels to a place for pleasure’?

A) Tourist guide
B) Traveler
C) Visitor
D) Tourist

3. Which phrase means ‘to protect something, especially a building or a natural environment, from damage or destruction’?

A) To develop infrastructure
B) To issue visas
C) To conserve a monument
D) To excavate a site

4. What is the term for ‘a place where people are buried, especially one with many graves’?

A) Open Library
B) Necropolis
C) Historic region
D) Desert oasis

5. Which word means ‘a performance or show, especially one that is entertaining’?

A) Exhibition
B) Festival
C) Concert
D) Entertainment

Answer Key:

1. C
2. D
3. C
4. B
5. B

Grammar Focus

Grammar Focus: Using the Present Perfect Continuous Tense to Describe Ongoing Actions and Events

Grammar Quiz:

1. The infrastructure in Alula ____________________ to attract more tourists since the region opened to visitors in 2019.

• A) has developed
• B) is developing
• C) has been developing
• D) was developed

2. By the end of the year, the number of historical sites in Alula ____________________ significantly due to ongoing excavations.

• A) increases
• B) has increased
• C) will have increased
• D) has been increasing

3. The Tantora Festival ____________________ every year since its inception, featuring top artists from around the world.

• A) has taken place
• B) takes place
• C) has been taking place
• D) took place

4. The old town in Alula, built 800 years ago, ____________________ after being abandoned in 1983 and is now open to visitors.

• A) has been conserved
• B) was conserved
• C) is conserved
• D) has conserved

5. The region of Alula ____________________ as a major tourist destination due to its unique landscapes and historical significance.

• A) has been expected
• B) is expected
• C) expects
• D) has expected

Answer Key:

1. C) has been developing

2. D) has been increasing

3. C) has been taking place

4. A) has been conserved

5. B) is expected