AlUla Visitor Guide — Hegra, Dadan & the Rose City

Key Insights

• 1

  Hegra (Mada'in Salih): Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site — 111 Nabataean tombs carved from rose sandstone.

• 2

  Dadan: The ancient capital of the Dadanite kingdom — predates Hegra. Guided access only via AlUla Experience tours.

• 3

  Jabal Ikmah: Open-air library of ancient inscriptions — largest in the Arabian Peninsula.

• 4

  Elephant Rock (Jabal Al-Fil): A natural rock formation resembling an elephant — free access, stunning at sunset.

• 5

  Best time to visit: October to March — temperatures between 15–25°C. Avoid summers (40°C+).

• 6

  Getting there: Direct flights from Riyadh/Jeddah to ULH Airport, or a premium road transfer (~10 hours from Riyadh).