30-year-old entrepreneur, Mei Wang, was inspired by the Chinese travel show, Divas Hit the Road, to visit AlUla, an oasis town in Saudi Arabia. Marvelling at its sandstone vistas, palm trees, ancient tombs and luxurious resorts, Wang travelled to AlUla with her mother from Guangzhou.
In Arabic, ‘AlUla’ signifies ‘glory.’ The kingdom envisions building this historic region, which is equivalent to the size of New Jersey, into one of the world’s top tourist hotspots. As stated by Melanie de Souza, AlUla’s top marketing officer, the destination aims to cater to all types of travelers, from luxury seekers to adventurous explorers and older connoisseurs.
One of the key projects led by the Royal Commission for AlUla is evolving tourist-friendly archaeological sites. These sites host colossal tombs that date back to the first century BC. Apart from setting up resorts, a contemporary art museum is being developed in association with Paris’s Centre Pompidou, along with a collection of restaurants and shops to enhance the tourist experience.
Additionally, the Sharaan Nature Reserve, a new attraction, also calls AlUla its home and is set to attract nature lovers from around the globe.
