When Was AlUla Old Town Established?

The establishment of the old town of AlUla in its current form, located in AlUla Governorate in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Province, dates back to the tenth century. The town was inhabited until about eighty years before the establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Today, visitors can explore the maze-like town built of mud bricks and surrounded by a mud wall.

The history of civilized settlement in the old town of AlUla dates back to the Stone Age. The land is fertile and abundant in freshwater, leading to successive civilizations that created a vast heritage, evidence of which is spread throughout the governorate.

The Royal Commission for AlUla is conducting comprehensive surveys on the archaeological history of the old town of AlUla. One of the discoveries dates back five thousand years, a tomb from the Bronze Age at the archaeological site of Hegra. Adjacent to the town is AlUla old town market, which includes restaurants, cafes, and various shops. The market street is designed in an antique style that harmonizes with the historical nature surrounding it.