AlUla, Oasis of Arabia

Since the first millennium BC, the AlUla valley in northwestern Saudi Arabia has been an essential crossroads on the incense route linking the south of the Arabian Peninsula to the Mediterranean. Thanks to its lush palm grove, the oasis, which is rich in underground water, has offered travellers an island of shade and cool air. For centuries, the astonishing variety of fruit trees that flourish beneath the date palms testifies to the remarkable adaptation of the local populations to their arid environment. Studies carried out since 2019 by the AlUla Cultural Oasis Project (UCOP) have brought to light the long history of these cultivated areas, as well as an incomparable earthen heritage, bearing precious witness to an ancestral way of life.This book of photographs pays tribute to AlUla, its timeless beauty and its cultural richness. It invites you to discover the oasis, its gardens and its peaceful atmosphere, while at the same time advocating the protection of its exceptional heritage for the benefit of future generations.Prof. Dr A. M. Nasif