Would YOU put Saudi Arabia on your bucket list? MailOnline discovers what it’s like to be a tourist there and enters the ancient oasis city that is being transformed into a luxury holiday destination

An ancient oasis city is being transformed into a luxury holiday destination by Saudi Arabia in the hope of luring wealthy tourists to what was once one of the least visited countries in the world.

Just over four years after the kingdom announced in 2019 that it was opening itself to non-religious visitors for the very first time, billions of pounds have been invested across the country in a bid to kick-start its fledgling tourism economy.

AlUla, located in Saudi Arabia’s northwestern province of Medina, has seen its fair share of this money and has been radically revamped from a 2,000-year-old oasis city to a lavish modern haven for high-end tourists.

Together with the world famous Banyan Tree resort, AlUla has a newly built Our Habitas hotel where guests can stay in a private tent villa and enjoy the breathtaking views of the vast Ashar Valley for £1,300 ($1,686) per night.

The luxury desert resort is so vast that each guest is given an electric bicycle to get around, or can call a golf cart to take them to the large infinity pool, restaurant and spa, where a range of traditional Middle Eastern wellness treatments is offered.

It is also just a stone’s throw from one of the region’s showpieces: the dazzling Maraya Concert Hall, which since its completion in 2020 has officially become the largest mirror building in the world and is home to international stars such as Usher, Alicia Keys and John Legend.

Both the Old Town and the rugged volcanic peaks overlooking AlUla offer visitors world-class cuisine thanks to a number of high-profile restaurants that have established themselves in the newly created market of fine dining.

There’s a range of choices to enjoy a decadent meal under illuminated palm trees, but a recent standout addition is the 21-Michelin-starred French chef’s just-opened restaurant Alain Ducasse.

Daisy Graham-Brown visits AlUla, in Saudi Arabia’s northwestern province of Medina, and discovers how it is being radically transformed into a tourist hotspot. She is staying at the newly built Our Habitas hotel (above), which features a large infinity pool in a dramatic setting

At Our Habitas, guests can stay in a private tent villa, as pictured, and enjoy breathtaking views of the vast Ashar Valley for £1,300 ($1,686) per night

The dazzling Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla, above, is officially the largest mirror building in the world

His AlUla venture places a ‘Camel confit’ and a number of other regional delicacies at the heart of the extensive tasting menu.

But while Saudi Arabia has relaxed its strict Islamic dress code for women, meaning they no longer have to wear full-covering black robes, potential tourists should be aware that they won’t be enjoying a glass of wine as alcohol sales is still going strong. illegal, even in hotels.

The restaurants compensate for this with their dry ‘mixologists’, such as at Somewhere restaurant in the Old City, who create tailor-made mocktails that perfectly complement each course.

This is perhaps why AlUla should be heralded as the Dry January destination for wealthy Westerners wanting a warm but down-to-earth winter escape, with daytime temperatures reaching a comfortable 26 degrees.

Although an unthinkable amount of money has been pumped into the region’s luxury offering, AlUla’s real appeal lies in its history.

The best of them is undoubtedly Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the largest preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra in Jordan.

Huge tombs carved into the side of red rocks stretch for miles as visitors in vintage Land Rovers are taken on a journey through time to discover the stories of the Nabataeans.

And there’s no shortage of activities either, from helicopter rides to ziplining and hiking. The most notable activity, however, is watching the sunset via the magnificent Elephant Rock before heading into the desert – an hour from any light source – to enjoy stargazing at Gharameel.

The old town of AlUla, above, overlooked by rugged volcanic peaks

Daisy discovers there’s no shortage of activities, from helicopter rides (left) to ziplining and hiking. As AlUla makes serious efforts to cater to an international audience, a focal point has become the AlUla Tour, a five-day professional cycling race (right)

The standout activity, says Daisy, is watching the sunset via the beautiful Elephant Rock (above), before heading into the desert.

The real appeal of AlUla is its history, notes Daisy, who adds: ‘The best thing about it is undoubtedly Hegra [above]a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the largest preserved site of the Nabataean civilization south of Petra in Jordan’

Enjoy stargazing at Gharameel, ‘where visitors lie on their backs, wrapped in layers of thick blankets, while an astronomer tells them the ancient Arabic myths of the constellations above’

Here, visitors lie on their backs, wrapped in layers of thick blankets, while an astronomer tells them the ancient Arabic myths about the constellations above.

While AlUla remains true to local traditions, it is undoubtedly trying seriously to cater to an international audience.

Has become a central point AlUla toura five-day professional cycling race run by acclaimed Tour de France organizers ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), where riders battle it out over breathtaking desert vistas and up steep volcanic mountains.

It is just one of many investments the country has made in an effort to globalize itself and broaden its appeal.

Saudi Arabia won’t be on everyone’s bucket list, and perhaps for good reason. But with deep enough pockets and a desire to see somewhere truly unique – maybe it should be.

For more visits www.experiencealula.com/en. For more information about the AlUla Tour cycling race, visit www.thealulatour.com/en. Visit ducasse-alula.com for more information about the Alain Ducasse restaurant.