RIYADH: AlUla achieved a major milestone by winning three categories at the 2025 World Travel Awards to reinforce its position as one of the region’s top destinations.
The ancient city in northwest Saudi Arabia was named the Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project, the Middle East’s Leading Festival and Event Destination, and Saudi Arabia’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project.
The triple success continued AlUla’s impressive streak after it earned the same honors in 2024 and the Middle East’s Leading Cultural Tourism Project title in 2023.
AlUla’s success highlights its enduring appeal and commitment to sustainable, community-driven tourism rooted in authentic heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
A natural wonder with deep historic roots, AlUla captivates visitors with its desert landscapes and unique rock formations, forming a natural canvas of Arabian beauty.
Its prehistoric rock art depicts humans, animals, and abstract forms, revealing the social, cultural, and spiritual life of early inhabitants.
In the first millennium B.C. AlUla became the center of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms — two of the Arabian Peninsula’s most advanced civilizations, known for their urban, commercial, and religious development.
In the first century A.D. Hegra became the southernmost city of the Nabataean Kingdom, renowned for its agricultural, architectural, and hydraulic engineering achievements.
The area was later annexed by the Roman Empire, becoming part of a wider trade and cultural exchange network.
Between the seventh and 12th centuries AlUla emerged as a key stop on the incense trade route, serving as a meeting point for traders and travelers from across the ancient world.
In the 20th century AlUla’s Hijaz Railway, built by the Ottoman Empire, linked major cities and facilitated Muslim pilgrimages to Makkah and Madinah.
Famous for its intricately carved tombs showcasing Nabataean artistry, Hegra was designated Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
In the 21st century — with UNESCO recognition and growing global interest in its cultural and historic legacy — AlUla has seen major conservation and sustainable tourism efforts, transforming it into a must-visit destination in Saudi Arabia.
AlUla’s history is retold through immersive experiences and a diverse calendar of events known as AlUla Moments, showcasing 200,000 years of human presence and 7,000 years of civilizations.
Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards honor excellence in travel, tourism, and hospitality, and are recognized globally as the industry’s hallmark of achievement.
