The breathtaking AlUla Skies Festival 2024 soared into the sunset on Saturday, as the third edition of AlUla Moments’ flagship festival came to a spectacular conclusion.
Beginning on September 26, this year’s 10-day edition elevated AlUla’s reputation as one of the world’s premier destinations for Astro Tourism – a low-impact, sustainable form of tourism focused on the viewing of celestial objects and events.
During AlUla’s flagship festival, the destination was officially named as Saudi Arabia’s first DarkSky Park, making history in the region as a leader in preserving an unobstructed night sky of stars. AlUla’s long-standing commitments to conserving and celebrating the evening skies’ natural treasures will provide the city with a hub for scientific and space discoveries in the coming years.
The AlUla Skies Festival 2024 included a series of hot-air balloon rides that whisked aero-explorers and summit-seekers on spectacular VIP flights over the city oasis’ breathtaking scenery.
There were also nighttime discoveries on the stargazing rides, astrophotography sessions, and glorious opportunities to experience AlUla’s dazzling night sky on the Madakhel Garden Night Hike. A magical Journey Among the Stars provided a fascinating chance to learn about astronomy, while Picnic Under the Stars offered a delicious, as well as spectacular, escapade.
And as if starry skies, breathtaking terrain and more than 200,000 years of human history from thousands of feet high weren’t enough, the AlUla Skies Festival 2024 began with Amr Diab performing live in AlUla for the first time. The Middle East’s best-selling artist of all time – and a seven-times World Music Awards winner – starred in front of over 1,400 delighted fans on September 27 for a concert that truly left memories to last a lifetime.
His live performance was the first in this year’s AlUla Moments concert series. It also built on the success of the world-renowned AZIMUTH music event, which had taken place in AlUla just days before.
For those with their heads still in the clouds, rest assured that the AlUla Skies Festival will return in 2025 – but to come back down to earth before then, why not enjoy the rejuvenation of the AlUla Wellness Festival? Running from October 17 – November 2, the AlUla Wellness Festival offers a place to pause and reflect, with celebrity-led workshops, fully immersive retreats and a series of unique wellness experiences connecting you with yourself and others.
For more information on AlUla Moments Calendar of events 2024/25, visit experiencealula.com
