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

Madain Saleh is one of the must-visit sites in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The ruins of the ancient Dadanian kingdom’s metropolis. Reem Mohammed / The National

A date harvest in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

Al Ula's dates farms bring greenery to the mountainous region. Reem Mohammed / The National

Tombs at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

Al Farid at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

Madain Saleh is carved into large rocky outcrops strewn throughout a sparse desert. Reem Mohammed / The National

Madain Saleh, the Unesco-listed southernmost settlement of the Nabatean kingdom, is also known as Hegra. Reem Mohammed / The National

The railway station at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

A date farm in Al Ula - the location is known for its fruit. Reem Mohammed / The National

Suleiman Aljuwayhal, a tour guide in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The railway station at Madain Saleh in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer works as the reception office supervisor at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The resort is undergoing expansion to accommodate more tourists. Reem Mohammed / The National

New rooms and suites are being built. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer started working at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula in 2018. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer inside the Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

When the Shaden Desert Resort is completed, it will comprise 120 rooms. Reem Mohammed / The National

The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop at Shaden Desert Resort. Reem Mohammed / The National

The resort is still under construction and isn’t fully functional. Reem Mohammed / The National

In a recent interview with The National, Saudi Arabia's Princess Nourah bint Mohammed Al Faisal had one recommendation for anyone visiting the country of her birth.

“I know everybody bangs on about Al Ula, but there is nowhere on Earth like it, except maybe the middle of the ocean," said the Saudi royal. "You really don’t understand how insignificant you are until you are standing there and you see how magnificent the terrain is. It puts you in your place, in a very good way.”

The historic Nabataean settlement in the country's north-west has just become more accessible to foreign visitors, following news that Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation has granted permission for international flights to land at Al Ula's Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Airport.

The airport’s capacity has been expanded from 100,000 annual passengers to 400,000 passengers per year, according to the Saudi Press Agency. At 2.4 million square metres, the facility is also one of the biggest airports in the kingdom, and can accommodate up to 15 commercial aircraft at one time.

While Saudi Arabia has closed its borders to international visitors until Monday, May 17, it is already working on drumming up interest in its many tourist attractions. The country recently released a new video, entitled The World's Masterpiece, designed to showcase Al Ula to potential visitors.

Al Ula spans an area of more than 22,000 square kilometres. Highlights include an oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient heritage sites dating back thousands of years. It's also set to be home to three new hotels by Aman Resorts International, the luxury hoteliers' first in the Middle East.

The design will pay tribute to the site's Nabataean heritage. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

A bird's eye view of the property's internal patio. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

The site’s dramatic rock faces are a central focus of the design, as seen in this guest room. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

An exterior view of Sharaan by Jean Nouvel. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

Public spaces in the Sharaan by Jean Nouvel resort. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

The resort's distinctive views. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

Water, light and shadow form an integral part of the design. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

The resort's unique elevators. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

The elevators make the most of the dramatic surroundings. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

An interplay of solid and hollowed-out surfaces emerges as a new form of mashrabiya. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

A hollowed-out internal patio will lie at the heart of the resort. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

Inside one of the resort's guest rooms. Courtesy Jean Nouvel

Located about 1,100 kilometres from Riyadh, Al Ula is home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site and the main southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom.

Al Ula’s Old Town and Jebel Al Fil (or Elephant Rock) also feature in the cinematic campaign, which stars Saudi actress Futun Abdullah Al Jarallah.

"We are already receiving a lot of interest from international travellers excited to explore a new destination with such history, including ancient civilisations from the Dadanites to the Nabataeans and the Romans," said Melanie de Souza, executive director marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla.

"The travel landscape has been irreversibly altered, but as travel slowly resumes, research tells us people will be looking for meaningful travel, vast open spaces and close to nature experiences. Al Ula is well-positioned in the domestic market for all of those reasons and internationally as a new and significant boutique heritage and culture destination," said de Souza.