TRAVEL FILE

HOW TO GET THERE

SITTING in the verdant Wadi Al-qura or Valley of Villages, Al Ula is 300km from Madinah, the holy city of Saudi Arabia. The fastest way to get to Al Ula is by air — 105 minutes from Riyadh and 75 minutes from Jeddah. Saudi Airlines flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Riyadh, Jeddah and Madinah.

VISA

Malaysians, like citizens from 48 other countries, can now visit Saudi Arabia as tourists, entering with the recently launched tourist visa for the first time.

Prior to the tourist visa, the conservative Islamic kingdom only offered visas for business trips, umrah and haj and family visits, making it one of the hardest countries to visit in the world. Application for the tourist visa can be made at its embassies and consulates across the world, at airports or online (visitsaudi.com).

The tourist visa allows for a stay of up to three months per entry, with visitors able to spend up to 90 days a year in the kingdom. Priced at SAR440 (RM480) plus tax, the visa is valid for one year with multiple entries.

WHERE TO STAY

With Al Ula at the forefront of the kingdom’s tourism attractions, the city has seen more resorts popping up.

While the city offers typical city hotels and guesthouses for local visitors, the desert offers boutique high-end resorts for more affluent, international visitors. Rumour has it that Jean Nouvel, the architect behind the Louvre Abu Dhabi, is designing a luxury resort.

In a local news report, Al Ula is set to have up to 9,000 rooms by 2035. But the report also warns that potential visitors should not expect to stay in a hostel — these aren’t the travellers Al Ula is targetting.

WHAT TO WEAR

In conjunction with the launch of its tourist visa, the government of Saudi Arabia has dropped its strict dress code, especially for foreign women. This means female tourists do not have to wear an abaya when entering the kingdom or during their days spent touring.

However, they’re required to dress modestly, i.e. no short dresses and pants, and no sleeveless tops.