A significant increase in the number of visitors this year Winter at Tantora concludes its activities

The Royal Commission for AlUla, the official organiser of Winter at Tantora Festival announced the conclusion of the second edition of the festival, which started on 19th December and lasted until 7th March, during which it presented a unique set of activities that celebrated the local and international historical and cultural heritage.

This season of the festival was a great success with the total number of site visits reaching 414,000 visitors from the Kingdom, the region, and across the globe. AlUla Airport also witnessed an increase in the number of flights, totalling 717 flights altogether, and an increase in the number of passengers by 36 per cent over the first season. During the period of the festival, AlUla served as a link connecting East and West, it breathed life again into the beautiful ancient landscape of AlUla to put the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map.

The second edition of Winter at Tantora Festival, witnessed many distinctive cultural, artistic, and sporting events in a unique festive atmosphere that continued for 12 weekends. Winter at Tantora hosted the best of music, art, and culture at regional and international levels, for it was, indeed, a meeting point for East and West and a true embodiment of the identity of AlUla, whose heritage dates back thousands of years.

During the weekend, the second season presented twenty-four concerts performed at Maraya Concert Hall and included a diverse group of musicians and singers: Aziza Jalal, Omar Khairat, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Jose Carreras, Andrea Bocelli, Yanni, Caracalla Dance Theatre, Carole Samaha, Abdelwahab Doukkali, Jamiroquai, Enrique Iglesias, the Gipsy Kings, Kool & the Gang, Sister Sledge, Lionel Richie, and Craig David.

Among the most prominent sporting events presented by the second season was the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup 2020 (AlFursan Endurance Race)—an invite-only, 2-star endurance race sanctioned by the International Equestrian Federation that covered 120 km over four loops through the mountains of AlUla—and the EcoTrail AlUla with 426 participants, a one-day outdoor event featuring an 83 km trail run, a 45 km trail marathon, a 10 km trail hike, and a 10 km trail race, traversing the main landmarks of AlUla. 

The ancient setting of Hegra was lit up for Franchise Freedom as 300 drones danced across the night sky for an unforgettable show. Lastly, the world-first AlUla Desert Polo event featured a new format inspired by the prestigious snow polo tournament held in St. Moritz, Switzerland.

Events at AlUla included the Rock Art Trail—a walking tour that featured rock art from historical eras. The AlUla Balloon Festival and Desert X AlUla, a world-famous contemporary art exhibition from Coachella, that arrived in Saudi Arabia for its first international collaboration and featured installations by global, regional, and local artists. 

The second season finally concluded with the Azimuth concert, which included artists such as The Chainsmokers, Tinie Tempah, and Jean-Michel Jarre, among many international artists, as they took to the stage in the magical desert of AlUla in Saudi Arabia. Gourmets and food lovers also had the opportunity to enjoy international dishes presented at the festival through several pop-up restaurants, including La Cantine du Faubourg, Annabel's, Sass Café, and Nobu. 

AlUla has contributed to the development of the Kingdom's society by generating 900 jobs for the locals living in AlUla. Through the festival, people of AlUla became involved with the success of the events and activities by working closely with the community and understanding their heritage and their land's history.

The Royal Commission for AlUla launched a series of programs and initiatives that were aimed at enhancing the quality of life of the locals, including training projects for AlUla community members which enabled RCU to create jobs. This included world-class hospitality training for residents to create teams of Rowah (tour guides), wildlife rangers and Hammayah (heritage guardians). Additionally, a partnership program with the renowned Ferrendi school saw young chefs receive advanced culinary tuition before gaining experience at AWNA, a pop-up restaurant at Hegra featuring a rotating cast of Michelin starred chefs.

Since the end of the second season, AlUla has closed its doors to visitors as preparations for its grand opening in October 2020 take place when AlUla will become open to the world throughout the whole year.   

For more information, please visit: www.experiencealula.com