AlUla Brings Past to Life at Ancient Kingdoms Festival

 The Ancient Kingdoms Festival, one of the most prominent cultural and historical events on the AlUla Moments calendar, returns this year from November 20 to December 6, offering visitors an extraordinary journey spanning thousands of years of human history.
 Held under the theme “Journeys Through Time,” the festival transforms AlUla into a living open-air museum, where heritage activities, cultural performances, and artistic creations bring the stories of ancient civilizations to life, giving visitors a fully immersive experience that bridges day and night.
 The festival evokes the spirit of history by retelling the tales of the ancient routes that once made AlUla a crossroads of civilizations along the Incense Road, connecting the Old World through commerce and culture.
 Visitors embark on a multi-sensory experience, where the scents of traditional markets blend with the flavors of authentic cuisine, awakening the senses and reconnecting the present with the deep roots of the past.
 At the heart of the festival are the people of AlUla — Rawis, rangers, artisans, and historians — who embody the essence of the place through their narratives, crafts, and voices, sharing their ancestral heritage with the world and inviting visitors to rediscover this unique destination.
 The festival also marks the return of the award-winning Hegra After Dark, running from November 20 to February 14, offering a journey under the stars at Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors will explore the Nabataean civilization in an enhanced sensory experience, described as a “theatre of life” that weaves together light, sound, scent, and taste.
 From November 20 to 29, the spectacular Stories from the Sky Hegra Drone Show will illuminate the monumental tombs with dazzling projections and synchronized aerial choreography, reimagining the legends of Hegra in a breathtaking visual performance.
 Moreover, the Hegra Candlelit Classics also return, uniting music and heritage in unforgettable surroundings. Visitors can explore the ancient landscapes of the Nabataeans through adventurous experiences such as the Hegra Geology Hike, a journey through millions of years of Earth’s history to discover striking rock formations and stunning viewpoints. For younger explorers and their families, the Hegra Children’s Tour brings history to life through engaging storytelling and interactive discovery.
 The program also includes nocturnal exploration experiences at other sites in AlUla, such as Jabal Ikmah, inscribed on UNESCO’s "Memory of the World" Register for its authentic historical inscriptions and symbols, and the Old Town with interactive activities at AlUla’s first Escape House, inspired by local folklore.
 The festival further marks the return of the Incense Road Experience, a recent winner of the “Best Arts and Culture” category of the Saudi Event Awards. This immersive journey draws inspiration from the stories of ancient trade, featuring interactive workshops on incense-making and opportunities to experience its authentic aroma.
 Tickets for the Ancient Kingdoms 2025 Festival are now available for booking, offering visitors a variety of rich cultural and historical experiences that highlight AlUla’s uniqueness and depth of heritage. For reservations and more information, please visit: https://www.experiencealula.com.