The top luxury resort is rolled up! Why do big names like Aman and Habitas choose this place to fight gods?

In August 2019, Aman announced that it would build three outstanding resorts with different architectural styles in AlUla in the northwest of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, scheduled to open to guests in 2023. This will also be Aman’s first appearance in the Middle East. Opening three properties in one go is really a big deal.

According to Aman’s official website, the three buildings include a tented camp that is integrated with nature, a majestic resort close to the spectacular heritage site of AlUla, and a fairyland-like, ranch-style desert resort. The resort (desert ranch-style) leads the world to explore this undiscovered hidden place and view the magnificent natural landscape and amazing archaeological sites.

In March 2020, Aman released a new direct brand Janu for the first time in its 32 years of existence. It attracted much attention. Unexpectedly, AlUla also appeared in the first three branch site selection lists. Similarly It is expected to open in 2023.

It is extremely rare for three Aman hotels and one Janu to open in the same city within one year. As we all know, Aman has always been very strict about the location of its hotels. Except for a few cities where Aman occupies the central position of the city, most Aman resorts are far away from the hustle and bustle and close to nature. Each Aman embodies the design team’s understanding of the local area. Respect and touching the environment, culture and history.

Amanjiwo is just a stone’s throw away from the World Heritage Site of Borobudur.

Coincidentally, French architect and Pritzker Prize winner Jean Nouvel also announced a hotel design plan in AlUla earlier.

Sharaan Resort renderings

The project is located deep in the Sharaan Nature Reserve, where there are spectacular cliffs and deep valleys, undulating sand dunes, and rocks of different shapes. Vail drew inspiration from the local World Heritage Site of Hegra to carve a hotel into the rock!

From the renderings, we can see that Jean Nouvel carved unique geometric patterns into the interior and cleverly introduced light. When natural light passes through the gap, light and shadow are reflected on the surrounding rock walls. The mottled light and shadow wandering through it is amazing.

Jean Nouvel has always been good at creating landmark buildings and creating spectacles of light and shadow, so you can foresee how stunning the Sharaan Resort will be when it is finally completed.

One step ahead of Aman and Jean Nouvel is Habitas. This hotel group specializing in "wild luxury" has branches in Mexico, Namibia and other places, and its locations are very wild. In November last year, Habitas AlUla Hotel was the first to open.

The hotel is located in the Ashar Gorge, surrounded by spectacular sandstone cliffs and palm groves. A river-like path leads to the 96 guest rooms, reception, yoga deck, fitness center, restaurant and swimming pool.

The design of the "giant artificial swimming pool and magnificent rocks" is reminiscent of Amangiri, where a room is hard to find. On one side is the driest natural rock, and on the other is a blue, gem-like artificial water feature. The completely different aesthetic images blend here, which is amazing.

The interior of the hotel is decorated in a traditional Middle Eastern style. Every detail is made from ethical materials and blends seamlessly into the natural environment. The warm color scheme of red, white and brown is mainly used to reflect the sustainable design. blend into the natural environment with minimal disturbance.

Since the hotel is located in a nature reserve, the environmental damage during the construction of the hotel was minimal as not a single construction was done on site and no nature was removed or damaged in the process resource. At the same time, most of the hotel's electricity sources come from solar energy.

In fact, there are far more luxury hotels planned to be built in AlUla. Many luxury hotel groups such as Banyan Tree have already settled here. AlUla, a slightly unfamiliar city in China, The region has become a top destination resource that top luxury hotels are competing for.

Looking at the entire Saudi Arabia, the number of luxury hotels has rivaled that of the neighboring United Arab Emirates, with luxury hotels such as Rosewood, Ritz-Carlton, Raffles, and Four Seasons occupying the best locations in each city.

Rosewood Jeddah

It is hard to imagine that this prosperous Middle Eastern country only opened its doors to global travelers three years ago. Prior to this, tourists visiting Saudi Arabia were limited to businessmen and foreign expatriates working in the Kingdom, as well as Muslims going to perform Hajj, and only during the Hajj season, Muslims could obtain special visas to visit the Saudi holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

Thanks to the Vision 2030 plan, this sacred "Land of the Two Holy Mosques" has finally unveiled its mystery, and AlUla's outstanding natural scenery and rich long-standing human heritage are no longer far away. Out of reach.

Elephant Rock (also known as Jabal Alfil) is one of the most famous geological wonders in AlUla. It is located in the golden desert and has been eroded by natural forces for millions of years. Cut by water erosion, the three-story "giant elephant" is lifelike, showing the uncanny craftsmanship of nature.

Saudi Arabia has always been at the crossroads of ancient civilizations, so it is home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. Hegra (AlUla) is one of the pearls. It is also the first site in Saudi Arabia to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The ancient city of Hegra covers an area of ??52 hectares and is surrounded by city walls. Its history can be traced back to the 2nd century BC. It was once the main southern city of the Nabataean Kingdom.

The Nabataeans once left civilization relics in Petra, Jordan. It is not difficult to find out the similarities when compared with Hegra.

Hegra has more than 110 well-preserved tombs, and their outer walls are carved from sandstone outcrops outside the city. The monuments of human civilization from thousands of years ago still stand vividly in front of you. The whims of the ancients meet with the skillful craftsmanship of ancient Nabataean craftsmen. The exquisite ancient tombs and the magnificent desert hills complement each other.

There are not only man-made ancient tombs here, but also the sacred mountain carved by the power of nature - Mt. Teseok. As the angle of sunlight changes, the light beam penetrates Mt. Tateishi and casts a line of sky over the entire area. The color of holiness.

AlUla’s long history doesn’t stop there. If we go back in time to the 9th to 8th centuries BC, this prosperous oasis across the valley was once the home of Dedan and Liha. The capital of the Kingdom of Yani. The ancient city of Dadan was at its peak due to the prosperous spice trade and represented the civilization and economic level of the Arabian Peninsula at that time.

After thousands of years of baptism, Dedan no longer has many intact buildings, but the ruins of ancient temples and ancient tombs have turned this area into a living archaeological site, according to historians They continue to excavate and gradually reveal the long-dusted history to the world.

The Dedan ruins include many historical monuments, including inscriptions and statues carved in the Dedan language, as well as ancient tombs made of red rock.

Among them is the Lion's Tombs (Lion's Tombs) standing among the desert cliffs. The two squatting lions mark the noble status of the royal family of the owner of the tomb, making it an ideal place to explore the past of Dedan and Liha. A great place to visit in Yanni civilization.

The Jabal Ikmah Valley, which is only a ten-minute drive from Dedan, is known as the largest "open library" in Saudi Arabia. It has the largest and most diverse collection of pre-Arabic inscriptions in Saudi Arabia, recording the changes in AlUla civilization.

Thousands of rocks are inscribed with intricate texts and petroglyphs, telling the stories of the people who once lived here, or the beliefs of travelers who indulged themselves in the mountains and rivers.

Time has flown on this land for thousands of years, but AlUla Old Town seems to be a static "eternal city".

The ancient city of AlUla was built in the 12th century and is located in the narrowest part of the AlUla Valley. It has witnessed the glorious days of trade and pilgrimage and is known as As the "crossroads" of civilization.

After three years of closed and comprehensive renovation, the ancient city has reopened in early March 2021. There are more than 900 mud-brick buildings dotted around the city. Walking among them, you feel like you can touch the long history.

You can follow the restored ancient city trails to Tantora Plaza to explore the mystery of the sundial, visit two restored mosques, climb the castle and overlook the entire ancient city; you can also Under the guidance of an experienced guide, listen carefully to the ancient local stories.