Ancient Kingdoms Festival

مهرجان الممالك القديمة

View on map
MusicAlUla/Khaybar/Tayma
DatesDates TBA · Usually NovemberCheck locally before booking
DurationAutumnEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLive music, late nightsWhat sets this festival apart is its
Language["ar"]Currency: SAR
CategoryMusicFestival type
The story

Ancient Kingdoms Festival in AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma

The Ancient Kingdoms Festival is AlUla's flagship heritage celebration, spreading across the Old Town, the Nabataean tombs of Hegra, and the oases of Khaybar and Tayma. Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla, it traces roughly 7,000 years of settlement by the Dadanite, Lihyanite, and Nabataean civilizations through nightly performances, guided walks, artisan markets, and desert dining.

Long before Petra became famous, the Nabataeans carved an equally monumental necropolis into the sandstone outcrops south of a smaller oasis town the Arabs called al-'Ula.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What sets this festival apart is its multi-site format: rather than one stage, visitors move between AlUla's UNESCO-listed Hegra necropolis, the mudbrick lanes of Old Town, and the palm oases of Khaybar and Tayma, each hosting its own program of storytelling, live music, and craft demonstrations

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival leans on AlUla's role as a crossroads of the ancient Incense Road, pairing archaeologists' commentary with contemporary light installations and Saudi and regional musicians performing against 2,000-year-old rock-cut facades, a pairing of scholarship and spectacle rarely staged together elsewhere in the Gulf

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival is built around the layered history of the Dadanite and Lihyanite kingdoms

Water and renewal

Living ritual

whose capital stood at Dadan near modern AlUla

The sacred route

Living ritual

and the Nabataeans

The local code

Living ritual

who carved Hegra's tombs as Arabia's southern answer to Petra

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Programming also draws on Khaybar's pre-Islamic and early Islamic-era heritage and Tayma's status as one of Arabia's oldest continuously inhabited oases

Tradition 6

Living ritual

referenced in Babylonian records

Tradition 7

Living ritual

folding archaeology

Tradition 8

Living ritual

and Bedouin hospitality into a single regional narrative

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually November

Getting around

Use AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.

What to wear

Modest dress is expected at all sites: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women, with loose, breathable fabrics recommended for daytime desert heat and cooler evening temperatures...

Safety

Keep phone power, water, and a clear meeting point sorted before the main crowd arrives.

Where to stay

Stay near workable transport in AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Tickets/cost

Ticketing varies by venue and stage. Confirm official passes before booking travel.

Language/currency

["ar"] · SAR

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map21.49 N, 39.19 EOpen in Google Maps

AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Nearest airportMED — Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz
TransportUse AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma transport around the venue or route first; event-day controls can change normal timing.
Stay areaStay near workable transport in AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, especially if the event runs late or streets close.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for November.Compare faresFestival gearModest dress is expected at all sites: shoulders and knees covered for both men and women, with loose, breathable fabrics recommended for daytime desert heat and cooler evening temperatures. Closed, sturdy walking shoes suit the uneven sandstone terrain around Hegra and Old Town; a light scarf or shawl is useful for sun protection and for covering up at more conservative Khaybar and Tayma venues.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Saudi Arabia and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Ancient Kingdoms Festival?

Ancient Kingdoms Festival is listed for November · Autumn. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Ancient Kingdoms Festival take place?

The festival is listed in AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, Saudi Arabia. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Autumn is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

AlUla/Khaybar/Tayma, Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually November
Source statusNeeds editorial review
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