AlUla, in north-west Saudi Arabia, has its own airport about 25 kilometres from town. It also has dedicated private-aviation facilities, so a private flight lands close to Hegra and the canyons of the region. Two matters need settling well before departure: the operator’s GACA permit and the travellers’ visas, which are best arranged in advance rather than on arrival. This guide covers both, along with the season and the ground plan.
Why AlUla
AlUla is a heritage destination first. Hegra, north of AlUla town, was the first site in Saudi Arabia inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in 2008. It is the largest conserved Nabataean site south of Petra. Around it lie sandstone valleys, the historic Old Town and a programme of festivals managed by the Royal Commission for AlUla.
It suits travellers interested in archaeology, landscape and design, couples and families on a short cultural stay, and principals adding a few days to business in Riyadh or Jeddah. Three or four nights covers the main sites without hurrying.
When to go
The official tourism sources point to the cooler months, roughly October to March or April, when most festivals and events take place. In high summer, Experience AlUla notes that daytime temperatures can exceed 40°C, falling to about 25°C at night. The air is dry, and summer visits move outdoor time to early morning and evening.
The Royal Commission publishes its events season as AlUla Moments. Recent seasons have included the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, Winter at Tantora around the turn of the year, and the AlUla Arts Festival in January and February. Dates change every season. Confirm the date for your year on the official calendar before planning a trip around an event.
Flying into AlUla
The airport: names and codes
Travellers usually know the airport as AlUla International. On the GACA website it appears as Prince Abdulmajeed bin Abdulaziz Airport, and the Saudi aeronautical information publication lists it as AlUla International. Its codes are ICAO OEAO and IATA ULH. When booking or searching, use the codes rather than the town name. “Alula” with the IATA code ALU is a different airport, in Somalia.
The aerodrome is about 25 kilometres south-east of AlUla. The Royal Commission opened a private-aviation hangar there in 2022 and says it can take private aircraft of different sizes. Experience AlUla puts the drive from the airport to the town centre at about 30 minutes.
Permits and handling
Under the Saudi AIP, a private or charter flight into the Kingdom needs a GACA permit, requested through an authorised agent. It also needs confirmed ground handling at the Saudi airport before each flight. The operator arranges both. Trip-support providers note that GACA processes requests in the Saudi working week, Sunday to Thursday, so a request made late in the week may wait until Sunday. Allow for that in short-notice plans.
Combining with other Saudi airports
Multi-stop itineraries commonly pair it with Riyadh (King Khalid International, OERK), Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International, OEJN) or the Red Sea coast via Red Sea International (OERS). Each sector is a separate domestic leg; the operator confirms that its aircraft may fly it and plans permits and handling for every one.
Visas: settle them before departure
Which visa each traveller needs depends on nationality and residence, and the rules change. Check the current requirements for every passport in the party on the official Visit Saudi visa pages and the Saudi eVisa portal (visa.visitsaudi.com) once the dates are fixed.
- Tourist eVisa. Citizens of eligible countries can apply online before travel. Visit Saudi describes it as valid for entry through all airports and seaports.
- Visa on arrival. Visit Saudi lists visa-on-arrival routes for some travellers, with conditions that have included how the traveller arrives. Do not plan a private arrival around one; apply in advance and confirm the route on the official portal.
- Passport validity. Visit Saudi asks for at least six months’ validity on entry.
Send the operator the passport details of every traveller at the same time as the visas are applied for. The operator needs them for its own filings.
On the ground
Hegra
UNESCO records 111 monumental tombs at Hegra, 94 of them decorated, mainly from the first century BCE and the first century CE. Visitors cannot drive themselves around the site. Entry is by guided tours sold through Experience AlUla, including a private 4×4 option for up to seven guests, as well as coach, horse-carriage and wildlife tours. Daily tour numbers are limited, so book once the dates are fixed. Treat any slot as confirmed only when Experience AlUla has issued it.
Beyond Hegra
- Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil), a 52-metre sandstone formation, opens from late afternoon into the night and is lit after dusk.
- Maraya, a mirror-clad building in the Ashar Valley, is used as a concert and events venue. The programme follows the AlUla Moments calendar.
- Sharaan Nature Reserve, north of AlUla, covers about 1,500 square kilometres. Guided nature tours run there.
- AlUla Old Town hosts much of the evening programme during Winter at Tantora.
Getting around
Sites are spread across a wide area, and most days involve several drives of 20 to 40 minutes. A chauffeured vehicle for the whole stay, or a self-drive rental where the traveller prefers, is simpler than booking transfers one at a time. Hegra itself is visited only on an official tour.
What Certified Jets arranges for AlUla
Certified Jets arranges your flight with a licensed operator suited to the route and the airport, and coordinates the rest of the trip around it. For AlUla, that typically means:
- On-demand private jet charter into OEAO, with the operator handling the GACA permit, handling and hangar requests; group charter for larger parties or festival weekends
- concierge for hotels, Hegra and other tour bookings, restaurants and AlUla Moments events
- chauffeured ground transportation for the stay, or a luxury car rental
- onward sectors to Riyadh, Jeddah or the Red Sea coast
Where needed, we can also arrange personal security through licensed local providers. Everything is subject to availability and local regulations, confirmed when you enquire. For a sense of the cabin options operators offer on a Gulf or European sector, browse the aircraft categories; for anything else, speak to an advisor.
Questions
Can we fly directly to AlUla from outside Saudi Arabia?
The airport handles international flights, and private aircraft use it. Whether your flight can clear into the Kingdom at OEAO, or must make its first landing elsewhere, depends on the permit and the handling arrangements. The operator confirms this when it plans the route.
Can we get a visa on arrival if we fly privately?
Do not plan around it. Visa-on-arrival routes carry conditions that can depend on how you arrive, and they change. Apply for the right visa before departure, and check the current rules for each passport on the official Saudi eVisa portal.
Is “Alula airport, ALU” the same place?
No. ALU is Alula in Somalia. AlUla in Saudi Arabia is ULH (IATA) and OEAO (ICAO).
How many days are enough?
Three or four nights covers Hegra, Elephant Rock, the Old Town and one desert or reserve outing. Add a night if the trip is built around a festival evening.
