Nighttime Walk Through AlUla Old Town – Savoring the Magic of Saudi Arabia’s Historic Desert Village (Part 2)

In my previous article, I described AlUla Oldtown during the daytime in midsummer. While the daytime offered a peaceful atmosphere that felt as if time had stopped, battling the heat was unavoidable and truly challenging. In stark contrast to daytime AlUla, this time I’ll introduce its nighttime persona. From around 4 PM, vitality returns to the old townscape, and the area bustling with tourists and locals feels like a completely different world. Let me fully convey the nighttime charm of AlUla Oldtown!

Check out the previous article!

Daytime Walk Through AlUla Old Town – Discovering the Charm of Saudi Arabia’s Historic Desert Village (Part 1)

Shops Start Opening After 4 PM

In Saudi Arabia’s midsummer, activity truly begins after sunset. Particularly in AlUla Oldtown, shops gradually start opening around 4 PM, and as the night deepens, more people gather. Unlike during the day, the streets fill with tourists and local families, creating a festival-like atmosphere. Combined with the illumination of stylish boutiques and souvenir shops lining the cobblestone streets, the entire town is enveloped in a magical mood.

Open-Air Cafés Are Popular

A defining feature of AlUla Oldtown at night is its open-air cafés. Enjoying coffee or dinner while feeling the cool evening breeze is very popular. Tourists particularly gather at the café area near AlUla Fort. There, you can not only enjoy local traditional Arabic coffee but also Saudi-style sweets and light meals. I too enjoyed time in this area, leisurely savoring coffee under the starry sky while watching people pass by. In contrast to the daytime silence, here laughter and music echo, allowing you to experience AlUla’s rich nighttime culture.

Souvenir Shops Selling Local Items

Another attraction of AlUla Oldtown is the souvenir shops with unique local items. Particularly noteworthy are shops dealing in local crafts and handmade accessories. There’s a wide selection ranging from items incorporating traditional designs to works showcasing modern sensibilities. Some accessories and small items feature designs and motifs unique to AlUla, making them popular as special souvenirs you can’t find elsewhere. Conversations with shop owners are also enjoyable moments. Through interactions with locals, your understanding of the culture and history of this area deepens.

Art Spaces Spread Throughout

Another highlight of AlUla Oldtown at night is the art galleries and exhibition spaces scattered throughout the town. Here, artwork created by local artists and creators is displayed, and the charm lies in being able to casually drop by while walking. Particularly noteworthy are the exhibition spaces utilizing historical buildings. The stone old buildings beautifully blend with modern art, creating a unique atmosphere. In one gallery, I encountered works combining traditional Arabic calligraphy with contemporary art and was impressed by their delicacy and boldness. By experiencing art in such places, you realize that AlUla is not just a tourist destination but an area where artistic culture thrives.

Shops Remain Open Past Midnight

Nights in AlUla Oldtown are long, with most shops continuing to operate beyond midnight. Especially on weekends and holidays, the bustle continues even later. As the night deepens, more people, freed from the daytime heat, gather, and the town becomes increasingly lively. Scenes of Saudi nightlife culture unfold, with families and friends gathering to enjoy meals and performances in squares. At a sweets shop I visited late at night, I savored the lingering atmosphere of AlUla’s evening while tasting traditional confections made with dates.

AlUla as a Developing Tourist Destination

Having explored AlUla’s charms during both day and night, I can say that AlUla is still developing as a tourist destination. While benefiting from government support as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 project and working on regional promotion, there are still many challenges as a tourist destination, such as underdeveloped transportation infrastructure. For this very reason, it can be said that as a local town with few foreign tourists, it offers a charm not found in other cities. If you want to experience local atmosphere, please consider visiting the ancient town of AlUla, away from the hustle and bustle, not just the big cities of Riyadh and Jeddah.

What Did You Think?

This time, I’ve shared the nighttime charm of AlUla Oldtown, which is completely different from daytime. From evening to night, vitality returns, and this area bustling with tourists and locals is a special space where art and culture intersect. Whether you prefer the daytime tranquility or enjoy the glamorous nighttime atmosphere, you can experience AlUla’s different faces at different times of day. When you next visit AlUla, I encourage you to explore during both day and night. The contrast will further enhance the charm of this town.