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The resort is still under construction and isn’t fully functional. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Madain Saleh is one of the must-visit sites in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The ruins of the ancient Dadanian kingdom’s metropolis. Reem Mohammed / The National
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A date harvest in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Al Ula's dates farms bring greenery to the mountainous region. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Tombs at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Al Farid at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Madain Saleh is carved into large rocky outcrops strewn throughout a sparse desert. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Madain Saleh, the Unesco-listed southernmost settlement of the Nabatean kingdom, is also known as Hegra. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The railway station at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
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A date farm in Al Ula - the location is known for its fruit. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Suleiman Aljuwayhal, a tour guide in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The railway station at Madain Saleh in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Ghadeer works as the reception office supervisor at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The resort is undergoing expansion to accommodate more tourists. Reem Mohammed / The National
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New rooms and suites are being built. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Ghadeer started working at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula in 2018. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Ghadeer inside the Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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When the Shaden Desert Resort is completed, it will comprise 120 rooms. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop at Shaden Desert Resort. Reem Mohammed / The National
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The resort is still under construction and isn’t fully functional. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OPHFQUJFSXKDNCP37Y36O4IT6Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0b6ddd4c45eb3fc0746a219a3cccbb59abc1173af0fb94f74cc6e24eea1f2ab1&width=400&height=225)
Madain Saleh is one of the must-visit sites in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GI4Y2VJ4SDHFBLST76OOIG4BDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=b81adf8ea40699fbbaadd245506a987768397530199693ce5bef7351be8dffa2&width=400&height=225)
The ruins of the ancient Dadanian kingdom’s metropolis. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JQLVNFGWOD3IIT53B4KRBPVKGA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2f51a4242a75b98a76b4d7fbb693f980f5ebc08fdcc8c890c6b6f78318ed8686&width=400&height=225)
A date harvest in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Al Ula's dates farms bring greenery to the mountainous region. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Q6GZERLJZQYQNXEVEV5WH4YXEA.jpg?smart=true&auth=7a20eb76ac1af1fa15135c4dcb6b7caae4d35e403730c8602336cd3047deb430&width=400&height=225)
Tombs at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Al Farid at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CYJTZ72KPUPZV4OHBYMTY3YEDM.jpg?smart=true&auth=d769f38d49d5296c45651ca9506ce39e0926f6580e417a38b9b34ef2f51b7170&width=400&height=225)
Madain Saleh is carved into large rocky outcrops strewn throughout a sparse desert. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDLK4T5GXBTIK5HNSSLPZG3YQI.jpg?smart=true&auth=e2e736f19f51295be50e22411fae466a3a38775a2cdee3ff55768753b9bc4d99&width=400&height=225)
Madain Saleh, the Unesco-listed southernmost settlement of the Nabatean kingdom, is also known as Hegra. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FVTZUN3GC57YT46QAKBUSHCVKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=7e18ebb994d7286b5f124882bf71ad72588a796fbff6d0c972c44233f27ff8b8&width=400&height=225)
The railway station at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National
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A date farm in Al Ula - the location is known for its fruit. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Suleiman Aljuwayhal, a tour guide in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HI2GPUT2AS2HN5NWKCD4E6R534.jpg?smart=true&auth=07746cb41a7e7716e67be7416b04def9177a4194c53ae86653183c70e20d6b79&width=400&height=225)
The railway station at Madain Saleh in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
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Ghadeer works as the reception office supervisor at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QWE6ADZ422Q4HWZART6VS3ASPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=df75ccc7d220761e46c51e9a26c6d5e4f76885b4522e2bfc6f6a15fced50361c&width=400&height=225)
The resort is undergoing expansion to accommodate more tourists. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2RD42H6BCSI5OG5YOCPLP3ALG4.jpg?smart=true&auth=9f835452be8096d2a59f35621bedc292f3f00184348d3b22ab5aa2b6ab13aae0&width=400&height=225)
New rooms and suites are being built. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4C3MO4WCOEZO7EDZV6WTA4UAQE.jpg?smart=true&auth=e9fee6b688be2c26a78145151cfaa020f6fabcaaba20b17e1d642458ea5cf51d&width=400&height=225)
Ghadeer started working at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula in 2018. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TOJD4DAGE6CF6OFVORO6XZGF44.jpg?smart=true&auth=dfc3f82af5337cbfffeb0511029eb48832e3b8a7f3ebb5ea6256f922d1d7942a&width=400&height=225)
Ghadeer inside the Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JYJV52NLLIRT3Y35UBH42KUBNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=88283e69e46e4c197703d4028239086fe37aa6e3f64359bd40a17379a8aa662e&width=400&height=225)
When the Shaden Desert Resort is completed, it will comprise 120 rooms. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GDE67T2JMUXQUWDS7D6P6WSBKI.jpg?smart=true&auth=86f5f945402c04cc9ac4c2f7967e35ac27d29b0d776d8c6d209f5ca3a7ec8686&width=400&height=225)
The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop at Shaden Desert Resort. Reem Mohammed / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HRVG6TRIYSOS54ZMYRLYPFLX4Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=76c227680eb2c20694705d354b026db8f0b7a0466e81cf957fd8c26b6f94b673&width=400&height=225)
The resort is still under construction and isn’t fully functional. Reem Mohammed / The National
Saudi Arabia's Al Ula airport will welcome international flights
Foreign visitors will be able to access the area's towering sandstone mountains and ancient heritage sites more easily
![Selina Denman](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F9fa44a68-a4d1-43ab-8bbd-f6555ff6264f.png?smart=true&auth=676308f2bc4077e6b552ebe5f868defb6ca677089ac8d8c511d06c0b69d888c7&width=70&height=70)
Selina Denman
07 March, 2021
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