{"id":14394,"date":"2025-12-13T01:47:57","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T00:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/?p=14394"},"modified":"2026-01-03T18:44:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T17:44:20","slug":"al-ula-our-experience-in-saudi-arabia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/al-ula-our-experience-in-saudi-arabia\/","title":{"rendered":"Al Ula \u2013 our experience in this part of Saudi Arabia"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14394\" class=\"elementor elementor-14394 elementor-12357\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f494cf e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5f494cf\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a56cef elementor-toc--minimized-on-desktop elementor-widget elementor-widget-table-of-contents\" data-id=\"5a56cef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;exclude_headings_by_selector&quot;:[],&quot;no_headings_message&quot;:&quot;No headings were found on this page.&quot;,&quot;minimized_on&quot;:&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;headings_by_tags&quot;:[&quot;h2&quot;,&quot;h3&quot;,&quot;h4&quot;,&quot;h5&quot;,&quot;h6&quot;],&quot;marker_view&quot;:&quot;numbers&quot;,&quot;minimize_box&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;hierarchical_view&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;min_height&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;min_height_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"table-of-contents.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__header-title\">\r\n\t\t\t\tTable of contents\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--expand\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__5a56cef\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Open table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-down\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M207.029 381.476L12.686 187.132c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941l22.667-22.667c9.357-9.357 24.522-9.375 33.901-.04L224 284.505l154.745-154.021c9.379-9.335 24.544-9.317 33.901.04l22.667 22.667c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941L240.971 381.476c-9.373 9.372-24.569 9.372-33.942 0z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__toggle-button elementor-toc__toggle-button--collapse\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"elementor-toc__5a56cef\" aria-expanded=\"true\" aria-label=\"Close table of contents\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-chevron-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M240.971 130.524l194.343 194.343c9.373 9.373 9.373 24.569 0 33.941l-22.667 22.667c-9.357 9.357-24.522 9.375-33.901.04L224 227.495 69.255 381.516c-9.379 9.335-24.544 9.317-33.901-.04l-22.667-22.667c-9.373-9.373-9.373-24.569 0-33.941L207.03 130.525c9.372-9.373 24.568-9.373 33.941-.001z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-toc__5a56cef\" class=\"elementor-toc__body\">\r\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toc__spinner-container\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<svg class=\"elementor-toc__spinner eicon-animation-spin e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-loading\" aria-hidden=\"true\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M500 975V858C696 858 858 696 858 500S696 142 500 142 142 304 142 500H25C25 237 238 25 500 25S975 237 975 500 763 975 500 975Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd8eeae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fd8eeae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Hey! <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"emoji\" role=\"img\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/svg\/1f44b.svg\" alt=\"\ud83d\udc4b\"><\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Back when we were planning our motorcycle trip from Poland to Oman, we already knew we wanted to make a special stop in Al Ula. This place had been on our radar for a long time, mainly because of how it looks in photos and videos. Jadzia was the most excited about it, but I was also curious whether it really feels that impressive in real life, or if it\u2019s just a matter of good camera angles and smart editing on social media.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Up until now, Saudi Arabia felt more like a big-city destination to us, since we had previously <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/saudi-arabia-first-travel-impressions\/\">been to Riyadh<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/saudi-arabia-what-to-see-in-ad-dammam\/\">Dammam<\/a>. This time we arrived on our own wheels, after long hours and serious mileage on the road, so the vibe was different right from the start \u2014 less \u201cflight\u2013hotel\u2013city\u201d and more about the road, open space, and slowly taking in the place. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">This is our practical take on the place from the perspective of traveling on your own wheels. We\u2019ll cover logistics, accommodation, food, internet, and a few things that are good to know before you arrive. And yes \u2014 there will be plenty of photos again, because with a place like this, there\u2019s really no other way xD  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d873bf9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d873bf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Where is Al Ula located?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7602116 elementor-widget elementor-widget-google_maps\" data-id=\"7602116\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"google_maps.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-custom-embed\">\n\t\t\t<iframe loading=\"lazy\"\n\t\t\t\t\tsrc=\"https:\/\/maps.google.com\/maps?q=al-ula%2C%20saudi%20arabia&#038;t=m&#038;z=10&#038;output=embed&#038;iwloc=near\"\n\t\t\t\t\ttitle=\"al-ula, saudi arabia\"\n\t\t\t\t\taria-label=\"al-ula, saudi arabia\"\n\t\t\t><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3087200 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3087200\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re looking for this place on the map, aim for the north-western part of Saudi Arabia, in the Al Madinah province (the one centered around Medina). Al Ula sits in a valley historically known as Wadi Al-Qura, meaning \u201cthe Valley of Villages\u201d \u2014 which explains why, right in the middle of a desert landscape, everything suddenly turns green, with an oasis, fields, and palm groves stretching along the valley.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">And here\u2019s an important distinction, because \u201cAl Ula\u201d is often used in two different ways: to describe the town itself, and to refer to the much larger administrative area (the region).<\/p><p class=\"p1\">In numbers, it looks like this: the town of Al Ula itself had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.citypopulation.de\/en\/saudiarabia\/admin\/al_mad%C4%ABnah_al_munuwarah\/0303__al_ul%C4%81\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">around 40,760 residents<\/a> according to the 2022 census. The wider Al Ula region had about 60,103 residents in 2022 and covers an area of roughly 19,840 km\u00b2.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">RCU (the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rcu.gov.sa\/en\/about-rcu\/about-alula\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Royal Commission for Al Ula<\/a>, the institution responsible for managing and developing the region) often refers to Al Ula on a broader \u201clandscape\u201d scale of about 22,561 km\u00b2 \u2014 the difference comes down to how the boundaries are defined and what exactly is included under the name \u201cAl Ula\u201d in promotional materials.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">In terms of getting there, it\u2019s really in the middle of nowhere \ud83d\ude02 Just to give you some scale: the regional capital is located roughly 325 km north of Medina. On top of that, the attractions are spread out over a large area \u2014 t<a href=\"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/e48d910aadd741c0941c02609732ccc0\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">his isn\u2019t a place with one central square and a few nearby streets<\/a>.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">This valley has long been a very real &#8220;water stop&#8221; along ancient routes. Around Dadan, one of the region\u2019s key archaeological sites, archaeologists and the RCU point out that it once functioned as an important hub for trade and agriculture along the so-called incense route.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Another key point that helps put the location into perspective: about 20 km north of the town lies Hegra (Mada\u2019in Salih), <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/1293\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Saudi Arabia<\/a>. UNESCO describes it as the largest preserved Nabataean complex south of Petra, featuring monumental tombs dating back to the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2276cec elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"2276cec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Al Ula, Saudi Arabia mosque with palm trees and desert cliffs in the background\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-002-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--huge-square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-1300x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square\" alt=\"Al Ula, Saudi Arabia street view with traditional buildings, hanging lanterns, and desert cliffs in the distance\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-003-650x650.jpeg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Al Ula, Saudi Arabia desert valley with sandy dunes and rocky cliffs under a clear blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a832740 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a832740\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>How to get to Al-Ula?<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Getting to Al Ula is already half the adventure. As mentioned earlier, the region sits a bit off the main routes, but the road infrastructure is really well done &#8211; smooth asphalt and fuel stations at reasonable intervals. From major Saudi cities, the distances are quite substantial: from Riyadh it\u2019s around 1,000 km, roughly 11\u201312 hours by car depending on breaks; from Jeddah about 700 km, around 7\u20138 hours of driving. From Medina it\u2019s much closer \u2014 roughly 330 km and about a 5-hour drive.   <\/p><p class=\"p1\">In our case, Al Ula was one of the key points on our entire route from Poland to Oman, so this wasn\u2019t a \u201cwe\u2019ll stop by if we pass nearby\u201d kind of place \u2014 we turned this way on purpose. We approached from the Buraidah side, continued through Ha\u2019il, and then followed Highway 70 all the way to Al Ula. The whole stretch was genuinely pleasant to ride, even if it did get a bit monotonous at times, with the horizon staying exactly the same for many long kilometers. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51e1bdf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51e1bdf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Motocyklem albo samochodem<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">Alright, a bit about us. We arrived here on two wheels as part of <g id=\"gid_0\">Desert Horizons 2025<\/g>, riding from Poland through Slovakia, the Balkans, Turkey, Iraqi Kurdistan, Baghdad, Kuwait, and only then into Saudi Arabia. Compared to that, the Buraidah\u2013Ha\u2019il\u2013Al Ula section felt like a relaxed highway ride, with smooth asphalt, wide shoulders, and clearly marked exits.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Getting there with your own vehicle looks similar no matter which direction you come from. The farther you are from big cities, the less traffic you\u2019ll see, but the more long, straight stretches of road you get. Car drivers have a clear advantage here, mainly thanks to air conditioning, especially in the hotter months. We arrived in September, and on a motorcycle it was already very intense\u2026 very, very warm XD  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">A car, whether your own or a rental, gives you the most freedom in this region. Distances between attractions are often measured in tens of kilometers, and many places sit in valleys or side roads where public transport simply doesn\u2019t reach. When planning a road trip from Riyadh or the coast, it\u2019s worth assuming longer daily drives from the start, but at least fuel in Saudi Arabia is still among the cheapest in the region.  <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  <\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">If you\u2019re thinking about picking up a car in Riyadh and doing a road trip around the country, <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/saudi-arabia-how-to-rent-a-car\/\">it\u2019s worth checking our separate article about renting a car in Saudi Arabia<\/a>. We break down what to look out for in the rental agreement and what might surprise you when picking up the car.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44eb4a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"44eb4a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Other transportation options<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">Not everyone needs to get here on their own wheels. Al Ula has its own airport, <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Al-Ula_International_Airport\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport<\/a> (ULH). It\u2019s small but modern, and it handles both domestic flights and a few international connections. According to current schedules, five airlines operate here, including Saudia, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flynas.com\/en-eu\/airports\/alula-airport\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Flynas<\/a>, flydubai, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian, with routes to cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dubai, Doha, and Amman.    <\/p><p class=\"p1\">You can also rent a car either directly at the airport or in town. There are local rental companies recommended on the region\u2019s official tourism website, as well as international chains with desks at Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.experiencealula.com\/en\/plan-your-trip\/getting-to-and-around-alula\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">There\u2019s also a more budget-friendly option:<\/a> long-distance buses. SAPTCO operates routes between major cities and Al Ula, mainly connections like Riyadh\u2013Al Ula or Jeddah\u2013Al Ula, which can take around 12 to 16 hours depending on the route. It\u2019s definitely the cheapest way to get there, but you need to be ready for a long day (or night) on the road and limited flexibility once you arrive. Without a rental car, getting around and visiting most attractions can still be a challenge.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-82d6ff2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"82d6ff2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Visas and documents<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">If you arrive in Saudi Arabia through one of the main international airports, Al Ula doesn\u2019t come with any extra or special requirements. You just need to meet the standard entry rules for the country. The tourist eVisa allows you to travel freely around Saudi Arabia, with the exception of areas restricted to Muslims only, such as Mecca and parts of Medina.   <\/p><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/guides\/tourist-visa-to-saudi-arabia\/\">We\u2019ve covered this in detail in a separate article about visas for Saudi Arabia<\/a>. Here, it\u2019s just the short \u201clong story short\u201d version.<\/p><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/visa.visitsaudi.com\/Home\/TermsConditions\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">What is required in practice (tourist from Poland\/EU):<\/a><\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">a passport valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry into Saudi Arabia,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">tourist visa: eVisa or Visa on arrival (Poland and most EU countries are on the list of eligible countries).<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e2054f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e2054f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p1\">Traveling with a child when there is only one parent<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">This is where things get a bit less obvious. A tourist visa for a child is handled together with the adult, but during border control or airline check-in, the issue of consent from the second parent often comes up. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">For example, Saudi airlines clearly mention in their rules for traveling with children that a written consent from the second parent may be required. This usually applies when the child travels with only one parent or with someone other than their parents.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  <\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">When entering Saudi Arabia, it\u2019s a good idea for minors traveling without both parents to carry the following documents:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">a notarized consent letter signed by the second parent (ideally in Arabic, but in this case English should also be sufficient),<\/li><li class=\"p1\">a copy of the second parent\u2019s passport,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">child&#8217;s birth certificate confirming the relationship.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce607a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ce607a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Traffic conditions<\/h2><p class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/saudi-arabia-what-to-expect-on-highways\/\">We\u2019ve already covered driving in Saudi Arabia in a separate article<\/a>. That one includes speed limits, local driving habits, checks, fines, and what to expect on long desert stretches. Here, we\u2019re adding only what\u2019s useful specifically for getting around Al Ula. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">The roads leading into the region are in really good condition. Coming from the Buraidah and Ha\u2019il side, most of the drive runs through desert stretches with one lane in each direction and smooth asphalt. Visually it can get a bit boring, but technically the ride is comfortable. It was easy to keep a steady pace, usually somewhere between 100 and 120 km\/h.   <\/p><p class=\"p1\">The closer you get to Al Ula, the more obvious it becomes that the region is being developed with tourism in mind. Access roads are well signposted, roundabouts and junctions near the town are clearly organized, and the city streets themselves are in very good condition. You\u2019ll still come across some signs only in Arabic, but most road signs are already bilingual, in both Arabic and English. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">However, there are a few things worth focusing on:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">On the roads leading out of town, camels can appear near the roadway, and at night this becomes no joke. They are tall, dark, and hard to spot. Warning signs usually show up well in advance, so if you see a \u201ccamel warning\u201d sign, it\u2019s best to slow down and stay alert.  <\/li><li class=\"p1\">Speed cameras are placed near town entrances and along longer straight sections of road. They come as grey boxes that don\u2019t stand out much. It\u2019s best to stick to the local speed limits, as Saudi Arabia makes very consistent use of automatic fines. <\/li><li class=\"p1\">Near the Old Town, parking is organized so that you leave your car at either the northern or southern parking area and continue by shuttle bus. Parking along the historic center itself is not allowed.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-708814b elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"708814b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-road-in-city.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-road-in-city-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia, Al Ula Road in city with street buildings and rocky mountains backdrop\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-motorcycle-night-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-motorcycle-night-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Motorcycle parked at Al Ula at midnight with cars in front of towering desert rocks in Saudi Arabia\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-motorcycle-on-road-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-motorcycle-on-road-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Rider on a motorcycle in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, with palm-lined streets ahead\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Person wearing a motorcycle helmet and red plaid jacket with arms out on the road in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-araia-al-ula-jadzia-with-helmet-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-road-sign-on-highay-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-road-sign-on-highay-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia Al Ula road exit sign with Arabic and English directions to Tabuk and Al Ula\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52f1507 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"52f1507\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>SIM card and Internet<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">This is where the more interesting part of the story begins, rather than \u201cwe bought the card and it worked\u201d. \ud83d\ude05<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We entered Saudi Arabia already using an eSIM bought from an online provider. The reason was simple. We were crossing from Kuwait to Buraidah very early in the morning, tired, in a new country, at a land border. Looking for a SIM card stand at 6 a.m. sounded more like a recipe for stress than for a smooth trip. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">At first, the network connected us to Zain KSA. And that felt like a small step back in time. Coverage along the route was similar to what Poland felt like years ago. The phone showed a signal, but mobile internet was more about \u201clooking for bars\u201d than anything close to proper LTE. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Only after the data package on that eSIM expired did we switch to another virtual provider that used the Mobily network. That\u2019s when things started to feel more normal. On sections where Zain barely managed 2G or 3G, Mobily jumped to much more usable LTE or even 5G, and the difference was easy to notice. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Three networks dominate the mobile market in Saudi Arabia:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stc.com.sa\/content\/stc\/sa\/en\/personal\/home.html\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">STC<\/a> is the largest operator in the country, with the biggest market share and the widest coverage, including areas outside major cities.<\/li><li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mobily.com.sa\/web\/ar\/home\/personal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mobily<\/a> is the second-largest player, often praised for a good balance between price and quality, reasonable data packages, and solid coverage in cities.<\/li><li class=\"p1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sa.zain.com\/en\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zain KSA<\/a> is the third operator. It invests heavily in infrastructure and promotes wide population coverage, but this doesn\u2019t always translate into a comfortable experience in more desert and remote areas.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">In Al Ula itself, things weren\u2019t great with either network. From our perspective, the region is still catching up to tourist expectations when it comes to internet quality. You might see 4G or 5G on your phone, but somewhere along the way a bottleneck appears. The signal is there, but the internet feels slow and unstable  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">It\u2019s not like everything is standing still, though. <a href=\"https:\/\/satelliteprome.com\/news\/alula-and-stc-sign-15-year-pact-to-drive-digital-transformation\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">RCU and STC have announced a partnership focused on infrastructure in the Al Ula region<\/a>, with STC working on expanding and strengthening the area\u2019s digital backbone. It looks good in official announcements and does seem to be happening, but at the stage we visited, the end result was still far from \u201cworking comfortably on Teams all day.\u201d <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93c6752 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93c6752\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Our accommodations in Al-Ula<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">When it comes to accommodation, you get the full range here. From \u201ccheap, as long as there\u2019s a place to sleep\u201d to luxury so extreme your wallet keeps crying for a week afterward. In town, there are plenty of apartments and private places to stay. On Airbnb, prices usually start around 30\u201340 EUR per night, depending on the standard and location. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  <\/span>At the other end of the scale, there are places where the price per night easily jumps into the hundreds of euros and can reach around 350\u2013600 USD or more for a single villa in the main resort.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">We went for a mix. First, three nights in an apartment in town, followed by one splurge night of \u201cdesert luxury\u201d at Caravan by Habitas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bd1bf3f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bd1bf3f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p1\">Living in the city<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">We started with a regular apartment right in town, near one of the mosques. No fireworks, no \u201cwow\u201d factor. Just a large place meant to do its job: sleep, do some laundry, and recover after the ride. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">In practice, it looked like this:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">a bed from the category \u201cit&#8217;s possible, but we&#8217;d think twice about it next time\u201d,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">there is a washing machine, but there is no space left to hang clothes. Creativity level: we dry clothes wherever we can. <\/li><li class=\"p1\">kitchen present, but without cooking equipment, so more of a decoration,<\/li><li class=\"p1\">the cherry on top was the lack of Wi-Fi. That one was on me, I didn\u2019t read the listing carefully enough. Evening YouTube sessions ended up eating a lot of mobile data, which was already working whenever it felt like it.  <\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">On top of that came the motorcycle issue. We didn\u2019t have any covered parking, so it was all about improvisation. Covering it with a towel, parking in the shade, whatever worked.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">But\u2026 it was cheap. Three nights came out to around 500 PLN, paid in cash. Was it great? It was cheap. Was it comfortable? It was cheap. And that\u2019s basically the main argument in favor of this place.      <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a25b7b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a25b7b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"p1\">Caravan by Habitas \u2013 pustynny kamper za milion wra\u017ce\u0144<\/h3><p class=\"p1\">Then we moved on to a completely different level. Jadzia had been dreaming for a long time about sleeping in a camper in the middle of the desert, so my room for negotiation was pretty much nonexistent. Technically, I could have backed out, but honestly\u2026 why would I \ud83d\ude05  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Caravan by Habitas is not a campsite in the \u201cconverted Fiat Ducato\u201d sense. This is glamping in the full meaning of the word. Shiny Airstreams are set in the Ashar Valley, between rock formations, each with a private terrace and views that make you just sit there and stare. Officially, there are 22 trailers, all with air conditioning, a private bathroom, a small living area, a kitchenette, and a private deck.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">For us, it was the first night ever spent in a camper like this. Jadzia wasn\u2019t a big fan of how the metal structure moves and how everything sounds different than in a normal room, but the overall idea worked really well. Stepping out onto the terrace in the evening, stars above, silence all around. That part was spot on. The only downside was that it was just one night, because this is the kind of place you\u2019d happily stay at a bit longer.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">The night in the camper, including breakfast, cost us around 900 PLN. And that was outside the main season. Looking at the official price ranges, rates can go much higher during busier periods. The main Habitas AlUla resort in Ashar Valley can cost several hundred euros per night, offering 96 luxury villas, an infinity pool, a spa, and the full \u201cdesert luxury\u201d experience.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">The resort itself is a bit far from the city, so the food situation is as follows:<\/p><ul><li class=\"p1\">Breakfast on site was tasty, but the waiting time felt more like \u201cslow life\u201d than quick service.<\/li><li class=\"p1\">For dinner, there are food trucks on site where you can grab something to eat, but the prices are very much aimed at a premium tourist crowd.<\/li><\/ul><p class=\"p1\">At one point, Jadzia was ready to tear my head off because of my constant comments about prices, but that\u2019s just how it is. In these luxury spots, Al Ula plays it straight. Your wallet is not supposed to complain.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Staying at Caravan by Habitas also came with access to the pool in the main villa complex. That famous Instagram pool where girls walk along a kind of \u201cwater walkway\u201d in long dresses. Yes, that\u2019s the one. The pool itself is just a pool, water is water. But the view and the overall atmosphere are honestly amazing.   <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Getting from the camper to that pool, though, was\u2026 exhausting. A transfer, then a change, then another electric cart. At some point you start to feel like a package moving through a sorting center. On one hand, it\u2019s nice that they even give you access to it. On the other, it\u2019s definitely not a \u201cquick swim and back\u201d kind of situation.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Internet? As we mentioned earlier, it was pretty average. In the campers, we had a mobile router provided by the property, but the connection itself just didn\u2019t really work\u2026  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Is it worth it? In our opinion, yes, it\u2019s worth it. Not every day, not for a whole week, and definitely not at any price. But once in a lifetime, spending a night in a camper in the desert, with views of the surrounding rock formations, is absolutely worth experiencing.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Villas in the main Habitas resort for around 5,000 PLN per night are definitely on a whole different level for us. The camper at about 900 PLN outside the season felt like a splurge, but one that was worth this one-time indulgence. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffdff7d elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"ffdff7d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-002.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-002-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Al Ula Caravans by Habitas in Saudi Arabia, open caravan with lounge seating and rugs under a canopy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-005-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-005-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Al Ula Caravans by Habitas pool with turquoise water and desert rock formations in Saudi Arabia\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-003-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-003-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Al Ula Caravans by Habitas in Saudi Arabia, with patterned seating and vans in a desert valley.\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Motorcyclist in front of Al Ula Caravans by Habitas at Saudi Arabia, with rocky desert cliffs and blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-001-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-004.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-caravans-habitas-004-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Interior of Saudi Arabia\u2019s Al Ula Caravans by Habitas with a kitchenette, seating, and a woman posing by a table\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e0cadf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3e0cadf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Food<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Food in Al Ula works a bit differently than in big cities like Riyadh or Jeddah. Restaurants aren\u2019t on every corner, but no one goes hungry, especially if you like chicken \ud83d\ude05 We mostly lived on shawarma, with pizza making a one-time appearance. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">In practice, most of the food spots are clustered around Old Town and the AlJadidah Arts District. That\u2019s where you\u2019ll find the more typical restaurants. <g id=\"gid_0\">It\u2019s worth checking the Experience AlUla website<\/g> to pick a place that suits you. We\u2019ve added the link for you. You can definitely find some budget-friendly options there \ud83d\ude09    <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Near the main attractions, you\u2019ll often find food trucks. At Elephant Rock, for example, there\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/ecoP9MFeHSsBgN7C7\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Salt<\/a> serving burgers and milkshakes. It\u2019s a very \u201cInstagram-style\u201d food truck set right in the desert. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">On the other end of the scale, there\u2019s fine dining. On the roof of Maraya, you\u2019ll find <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/dym7ZgbdoEfJox987\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Maraya Social<\/a>, a restaurant by Jason Atherton. It serves modern cuisine in a sharing-plates style and sits firmly in the $$$\u2013$$$$ price range. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  <\/span>On top of that, there are restaurants in resorts like Our Habitas AlUla or Banyan Tree (<a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/MAnS6fE66iknUUeZ8\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tama<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/Wt8Sg2byZp8hEVEt6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Harrat<\/a>). The views are stunning, but the prices match a five-star resort, not a roadside eatery.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-537481f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"537481f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Cash: Exchange or ATM?<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">For us, it was simple: we paid for almost everything by card. There wasn\u2019t a single situation where we had to run around the city asking, \u201cwhere can we even exchange money here?\u201d.<br>Okay, correction \u2014 we did need cash once, just to pay the apartment owner for the rental. And that was it.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Saudi Arabia is heavily geared toward cashless payments. In most hotels, restaurants, shops, and attractions, you can pay without any issues using Visa or Mastercard. American Express tends to be a bit less widely accepted.  <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"> <\/span><\/p><p class=\"p1\">We didn\u2019t come across any currency exchange offices in the city. There may be one at the airport, but we didn\u2019t use it and didn\u2019t see it ourselves. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a16ab2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"3a16ab2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--2 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Al Ula, Saudi Arabia: cars parked on a road before towering desert rock formations\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-005-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004-650x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_square\" alt=\"Al Ula in Saudi Arabia desert landscape with sandstone rock formations under a blue sky\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004-650x650.jpeg 650w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-photos-of-region-004-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b47447b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b47447b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Safety<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">Al Ula was one of those places where you simply feel calm and safe. No stress, no wondering whether your helmet will disappear if you leave it hanging on the motorcycle mirror. The biggest \u201cattraction\u201d was actually us, with people being curious and asking where we had come from.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">Saudi Arabia generally has a low level of crime. In our experience, the biggest risk is still the roads and the driving style of some local drivers, <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/saudi-arabia-what-to-expect-on-highways\/\">which we already mentioned in the road conditions section<\/a>. You need to keep your eyes open when overtaking and not assume that everyone respects speed limits the way you might expect. Well\u2026 they do slow down, just mainly when there\u2019s a speed camera \ud83d\ude01 <\/p><p class=\"p1\">On the formal side, the Royal Commission for AlUla oversees tourism in the region to keep things organized and well managed. Guides, tour operators, and attractions operate under licenses and regulations designed to ensure safety and a reasonable standard of service.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-442a174 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"442a174\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Climate and weather conditions<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">The entire region lies in a typical desert climate. Summers are very hot, the air is dry, rainfall is minimal, and temperature differences between day and night can be quite noticeable. If you look at climate statistics, you\u2019ll see that the hottest period runs from late May through the end of September. During this time, average daytime highs exceed 34\u201335\u00b0C, and at the peak of summer, especially in August, daytime temperatures can reach around 40\u201341\u00b0C. Winters are surprisingly pleasant. In January, average daytime highs sit around 20\u201321\u00b0C, while nighttime temperatures can drop to roughly 6\u20138\u00b0C.   <\/p><p class=\"p1\">From a regular traveler\u2019s point of view, the most comfortable time to visit is roughly from October to March. Mornings are fresh, afternoons are warm but not yet overwhelming, and in the evenings you can sit outside without feeling like someone just pointed an industrial hair dryer at you. During this period, daytime temperatures usually stay between 20 and 30\u00b0C, depending on the month, with very little rainfall, often just a few millimeters per month.  <\/p><p class=\"p1\">September, when we arrived, is still full-on \u201cfrying pan\u201d season. Average daytime highs for this month hover around 40\u201342\u00b0C, and the beginning of September can easily hit 39\u201340\u00b0C during the day. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">  <\/span>Along the way, temperatures during the ride were around 36\u201338\u00b0C, but the closer we got to the region itself, the faster the display jumped to a solid 40\u00b0C or more. Long walks in the middle of the day are not exactly enjoyable in those conditions. It\u2019s more about trying not to melt than actually sightseeing. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">This also changes the daily rhythm. During the day, even outside the main season, the town can feel half asleep. Few people on the streets, very little movement, everything seems to be on pause. Only after around 4 p.m. does it slowly start to wake up. It gets a bit cooler (which sounds funny when it\u2019s still around 38\u00b0C xD), and restaurants begin to open.   <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75aba70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75aba70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Co warto zobaczy\u0107 w Al-Ula?<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">This is where the real fun begins, but\u2026 we\u2019re not going to turn this into a guide covering every single rock and viewpoint. The official guides you can easily find online list more places than most people could ever fit into an average vacation anyway haha.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">\ud83d\udc49 <a href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/asia\/al-ula-hegra-old-town-and-top-places\/\">That\u2019s why everything we managed to see and do on site went into a separate post<\/a> \ud83d\udc48. A calm, practical \u201cwhat\u2019s worth seeing in Al Ula\u201d kind of guide, with specific places, our impressions, logistics, and photos. There isn\u2019t that much of it, don\u2019t worry \ud83d\ude0a Unless you\u2019re planning to stay here for two weeks. In that case, add your own discoveries and let us know in the comments what else you found interesting.<\/p><p class=\"p1\">Yes, Hegra is also on the list \u2013 without her, this entry would not make sense \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b219fea elementor-widget elementor-widget-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry\" data-id=\"b219fea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"qi_addons_for_elementor_image_gallery_masonry.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-shortcode qodef-m qodef-qi-image-gallery-masonry qodef-qi-fslightbox-popup qodef-popup-gallery qodef-image--hover-zoom qodef-qi-grid qodef-layout--qi-masonry qodef-items--fixed qodef-col-num--3 qodef-responsive--predefined\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-grid-inner\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"qodef-qi-grid-masonry-sizer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-filip-jadwiga.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-filip-jadwiga-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Tourists holding a banner in Al Ula Filip and Jadwiga, Saudi Arabia, with desert rocks under a blue sky\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--huge-square\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan-1300x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_huge-square\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia, Al Ula Al Diwan: two men in traditional dress standing in a sandstone cave corridor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan-1300x1300.jpeg 1300w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan-148x148.jpeg 148w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan-296x296.jpeg 296w, https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-al-diwan-650x650.jpeg 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-our-caravan-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-our-caravan-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Night desert scene in Al Ula with a caravan truck and tents under a starry sky in Saudi Arabia\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--portrait\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-old-town-mirror-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"650\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-old-town-mirror-650x1300.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_portrait\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia, Al Ula Old Town sign with two people posing under a decorative frame\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"qodef-e qodef-image-wrapper qodef-grid-item qodef-item--landscape\">\n\t<div class=\"qodef-e-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"qodef-popup-item\" itemprop=\"image\" href=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-maraya-inside-scaled.jpeg\" data-type=\"image\" data-fslightbox=\"gallery-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/saudi-arabia-al-ula-maraya-inside-1300x650.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape size-qi_addons_for_elementor_image_size_landscape\" alt=\"Saudi Arabia, Al Ula Maraya inside: man in white thobe standing in a grand auditorium with curved golden ceiling lights\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bbc7151 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bbc7151\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"p1\">Our summary<\/h2><p class=\"p1\">The whole region has been growing for several years now. New hotels, new projects, carefully developed attractions. At the same time, there\u2019s still a lot of raw desert and those almost alien rock formations that make you feel like you\u2019re on some kind of test trip to Mars. No point pretending otherwise. It\u2019s simply very beautiful, and Al Ula added another solid reason for us to want more of Saudi Arabia. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">There is, however, another side of the story, and this is where I, Filip, will keep reminding you of one thing. This destination is clearly aimed at travelers with deeper pockets. RCU is officially building Al Ula as a \u201chyper-luxury\u201d destination, average spending per visitor is already higher than initially planned, and investments and hotels like Habitas or Banyan Tree are targeting guests who don\u2019t really ask how much a night with a pool between the rocks actually costs. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">For a \u201cregular\u201d traveler from Europe, it\u2019s still very doable. There are apartments in town, meals at reasonable prices, and normal everyday shops. At the same time, it\u2019s very clear that Saudi Arabia is using this region to test how far premium tourism in the desert can be pushed. <\/p><p class=\"p1\">As for us, it\u2019s another point calmly checked off the map, but not in the sense of \u201cdone and forgotten.\u201d It feels more like a place worth coming back to someday, in a better season, to see what\u2019s new and how this whole luxury vision has developed. Saudi Arabia still has a lot left to show us, and Al Ula is just one of the more spectacular stops in a much longer journey of discovering the country.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Al Ula in Saudi Arabia is a unique region. Find out how to get there, where to stay, and how to plan your trip to make the most of your visit.","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[174,134,175,173,171],"class_list":{"0":"post-14394","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-asia","8":"tag-culture-and-habits","9":"tag-saudi-arabia","10":"tag-travel-planning","11":"tag-travel-safety","12":"tag-urban-tourism","13":"cs-entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14394","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14394"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14394\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14320"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14394"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14394"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/warsawtravelers.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14394"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}