Habitas AlUla in Saudi Arabia is set to become the sustainable, experience-led hospitality brand’s first Middle Eastern property when it launches later this year.

It’s envisaged that Habitas AlUla, which will feature 100 guestrooms and impressive amenities, will open in the second half of 2021.

Sustainable desert design

Immersing visitors in one of Saudi Arabia’s most dramatic landscapes, Habitas AlUla will occupy the site of an ancient oasis amid the palm groves, sandstone cliffs and desert canyons that make up the Ashar Valley. Pathways through the resort will lead guests to the property’s 100 guestrooms, restaurant, wellness and fitness centres, yoga deck and swimming pool.

Designed to blend into its surroundings, the entire resort is being constructed from ethically sourced organic materials using sustainable construction methods and a modular build process. This low-impact design aesthetic should create a space for guests to meaningfully experience this part of Saudi Arabia for themselves.

Six pillars of local experiences

Habitas AlUla will take on the Habitas brand’s six programming pillars: music, adventure, wellness, culinary, culture and learning. These pillars are the basis for experiences designed to immerse guests in the region’s culture and natural environment.

Audio will become a part of the experience through the curated sounds of the region’s musical talent. And local cuisine will be brought into each guest’s stay through an introduction to regional flavours at the onsite restaurant Tama, marrying Saudi Arabian and Middle Eastern flavours with fresh local ingredients.

Guests will then be able to expand their knowledge through weekly outdoor cinema screenings showing regional cultural films and documentaries, along with lectures giving an insight into local initiatives, culture and history. This will all be added to by artistic and cultural activities, as well as explorations of the surrounding area.

A stay here will give guests the opportunity to visit sites scattered throughout the historically significant region. Described as an open-air museum, AlUla is located on the original pilgrimage route to Makkah; it’s a unique area spanning 22,561 sq km that contains thousands of burial places, including the famous tombs of Hegra, the Unesco World Heritage Site.

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