Your guide to Ramadan day-to-night experiences in AlUla

Slow mornings, golden-hour anticipation, and starlit gatherings await

If you’re spending Ramadan in AlUla – or even thinking about it – here’s what you need to know.

Ramadan here doesn’t feel rushed or overwhelming. It moves differently. The days unfold quietly against vast desert landscapes, while the nights come alive with atmosphere, connection, and a sense of shared ritual.

Here’s how you can do Ramadan in AlUla, from day to night.

A gentler pace by day

In daylight hours, AlUla feels almost meditative. The vastness of the desert, the hush of the Oasis, and the timeless presence of heritage sites naturally encourage visitors to slow down.

Start with a nature tour through striking canyons and sandstone valleys, wander beneath swaying palms in the Oasis, or explore large-scale outdoor art that blends seamlessly into the landscape.

Daytime highlights:

Dadan & Jabal Ikmah Tour

Travel back to the 9th century BCE as you explore Dadan’s stone-carved tombs and wander through Jabal Ikmah’s extraordinary “open-air library” of ancient inscriptions and petroglyphs. Choose a guided journey with a local Rawi storyteller or explore the sites at your own pace with Heritage Rangers and an audio guide.

Timings: Guided Tour – 7.45am, 10.45am, 2.45pm & 3.45pm | Audio Tour – 8.45am & 1.45pm

Cost: SAR60 for guided tour & SAR90 for audio tour. Book here.

Desert X AlUla 2026

Contemporary art meets raw desert beauty in this open-air exhibition of striking installations. Scattered across AlUla’s cinematic terrain, each piece at Desert X AlUla encourages pause, curiosity, and reflection.

Location: Desert X AlUla 2026, AlUla

Ramadan Timings: Sun to Thu 3pm, 4pm & 5pm | Fri & Sat 9am, 10am, 11am, 3pm, 4pm & 5pm

Cost: Starts at SAR50. Tickets can be purchased here.

Hegra Day Tour

Step into Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, where well-preserved Nabataean tombs rise from golden sandstone landscapes. Led by local Rawis, this immersive journey brings ancient carvings, sacred spaces, and the legacy of the Nabataean civilisation to life.

Location: Hegra, AlUla

Timings: 7.30am, 8.30am, 1.30pm & 2.30pm

Cost: SAR95 per adult, SAR45 for children aged five to 12, free for those under four. Book your tickets here.

Hegra Wildlife & Nature Tour

Discover Hegra in an open-top 4×4, where striking rock formations and desert wildlife turn every journey into a safari-style adventure. Along the way, uncover ancient inscriptions and rock art that bring AlUla’s human history to life.

Timings: 6.30am & 3.30pm

Cost: Starts at SAR150. Book here.

Old Town Tour

Wander through a maze of centuries-old mudbrick homes and storied alleyways, where AlUla’s living history quietly unfolds. Led by a Rawi, this immersive walk offers a rare glimpse into the town’s past, from pilgrims and traders to generations of settlers.

Location: Old Town, AlUla

Timings: 9.30am, 10.30am, 4.30pm & 5.30pm

Cost: SAR70 per adult, SAR35 for children aged five to 12, free for those under four. Book here.

When day turns to dusk 

As sunset approaches, the pace of the day begins to change. While many cafes and hotel restaurants offer daytime dining options – particularly for non-fasting guests – dining is thoughtfully arranged out of respect for those observing the fast.

After dark is when AlUla’s culinary scene comes alive. Here’s where to gather for Iftar and linger long after.

7Ribs

Settle in for a satisfying meal at this traditional steakhouse, where classic flavours meet a subtle modern twist. Expect a welcoming atmosphere, attentive service, and a menu that offers both comfort and refinement.

Location: Old Town, AlUla

Timings: 4pm to 2am

Joontos

Joontos presents a Saudi-inspired menu developed by Chef Jaume Puigdengolas, who previously helmed the two Michelin-starred restaurant Skina in Marbella. Expect thoughtfully prepared dishes made with fresh Oasis ingredients, served throughout the day.

Location: Dar Tantora The House Hotel, AlUla

Timings: 7am to 11am, 12.30pm to 11pm

Maraya Social

This Ramadan, Maraya Social welcomes guests to a specially crafted iftar and suhoor set menu, ideal for relaxed dining.

Location: 3F Maraya Concert Hall, Al Otheeb 43536, AlUla

Cost: SAR275

Minzal 

For coffee, gelato and desserts with a local twist, Minzal is an easy favourite.

Location: Old Town, AlUla

Timings: 9am to 1am

Pizza Bar IOI

Perched at AlUla’s Harrat Viewpoint, Pizza Bar IOI serves authentic Neapolitan-style pizza with distinct leopard-spotted crusts. Also offering handmade pastas, crisp salads, and seasonal Italian plates, the intimate pizzeria is set around a striking central oven and serves flavourful fare, with panoramic views to match.

Location: Harrat Viewpoint, AlUla

Timings: 9am to 10pm

Rock Cafe

For international comfort dishes and light bites, Rock Cafe offers a cosy, nature-inspired setting. In cooler months, bonfire evenings with Saudi coffee and tea add to the charm.

Location: Shaden Resort AlUla

Timings: 6pm to 11.30pm

The Chedi Hegra

 

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For those looking to experience a Ramadan tent in AlUla, Layali Chedi Hegra delivers a beautifully staged experience – ambient lighting, thoughtful details, curated menus, and dining under the desert sky.

Location: The Chedi Hegra, Hegra 43541, AlUla

Timings: Iftar Sunset to 9pm | Suhoor 11pm to 3am

Cost: Iftar SAR325 per person | Suhoor SAR345 per person

Contact: +966 53 900 6574

Tofareya

At Tofareya, Saudi heritage takes centre stage through a menu of traditional dishes inspired by the tastes and stories passed down through generations.

Location: Old Town, AlUla

Timings: noon to 1.30am

Villa Fayrouz

With over 20 years of culinary heritage, Villa Fayrouz is renowned for its authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine. Expect everything from charcoal-grilled favourites to homemade pastries and a generous array of mezze.

Location: Old Town, AlUla

Timings: Noon to 2am

A vibrant rhythm by night

When night settles over the desert, AlUla transforms. Lantern-lit pathways, softly lit heritage streets, and starry skies create an atmosphere that feels both festive and profoundly peaceful.

Nighttime highlights:

Arduna

A multidisciplinary art experience that combines exhibitions, talks, and creative workshops, Arduna explores themes of identity, land, and human connection – ideas that feel particularly resonant during Ramadan.

Location: Arduna Pavilion, AlUla 43523 (Arduna spans multiple venues; it is a 25-minute walk from the Arduna Pavilion to the other sites in the AlJadidah Arts District)

Ramadan timings: Wed to Sun 8pm to 2am | Last entry: 11.30pm

Cost: Starts at SAR50. Book here.

A Place of Remembrance

An immersive journey through three restored homes in AlUla’s Old Town, A Place of Remembrance explores themes of weddings, childhood, and the wisdom of elders. The experience blends tradition with technology, using multimedia, immersive sound, and design to honour local heritage.

Location: Old Town Visitor Centre, AlUla

Ramadan timings: Tues to Sun 5pm to 10pm

Cost: Free entry

Awaken the Tales – Old Town Escape House

Set in an 11-room, restored mud-brick heritage house – once rumoured to be an apothecary – get ready to unlock AlUla’s folk tales like never before. Guests will solve puzzles, track down clues, and crack mysteries hidden throughout this 60-minute immersive escape room experience. Inspired by community research and the oral traditions of AlUla, it invites visitors into stories shaped by those who have inherited them for generations.

Location: Old Town Escape House, Tantora Square, AlUla

Ramadan timings: 7pm & 10pm for English

Cost: SAR130 per person. Book your experience here.

Memories of Ramadan Night Tour

Step back in time on a 45-minute torchlit tour of AlUla’s Old Town, guided by a local Rawi whose ancestors once lived in its winding lanes. Discover rare insights into Ramadan traditions, when the town thrived as a centre of life and connection. This limited-time experience explores themes of unity, faith, family, travel, and celebration, including a special visit to the house of the Moon Watcher, who once announces the holy month by sighting the crescent moon. Highly recommended.

Location: Old Town Visitor Centre, AlUla

Ramadan timings: Feb 20 to Mar 13, English tour: 10.30pm to 11.15pm & Arabic tour: 11.30pm to 12.15am

Cost: SAR70 per person (ages 13 and above), SAR30 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for those under 5. Book your tickets here.

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