AlUla has announced a pioneering plan to launch a globally recognised observatory that supports research and experiential educational initiatives in astronomy and space science. Supported by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), in addition to elite international partners like SETI institute in California, the inspirational AlUla Manara will be a state-of-the-art facility equipped with the very latest in astronomical technology to enable the exploration of our universe. With minimal light pollution, the area on the north-west of Gharameel Nature Reserve is where AlUla Manara will be positioned.

Astronomy and Arabic culture have always been natural partners thanks to one thing: the desert. The absence of light pollution or moisture that forms clouds meant that astronomers living in Arabian deserts were able to gaze up in wonder at crystal clear skies filled with stars and use them for navigation or religious practices. Regional astronomers devoted their lives to the stars, often giving them names and attaching elaborate stories to them. Thanks to an innate love of storytelling in Arabic culture, more than 200 of the brightest stars in the sky have Arabic names, such as Fomalhaut meaning ‘mouth of the whale’, Achernar meaning ‘end of the river’ and Deneb meaning ‘tail of the fowl’, which add a poetic beauty to the constellations above.

For centuries, AlUla has been a place where conversation has aided its growth. As traders and pilgrims met at AlUla’s vibrant oasis, stories and information were swapped before they bid farewell and continued on their journeys. Today, that tradition is still alive at AlUla, with a few modern adjustments. Visitors to AlUla can benefit from helpful word-of-mouth suggestions from people on the ground, where they will find a very active community. Real world information regarding events, meet-ups, tourism insights, and the exchange of content guides curious visitors in the right direction to ensure they get the most out of their visit to AlUla.