Al Ula Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Maraya Social by Jason Atherton (located in Maraya Hall) – High-end international/British fusion |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
HungerStation and Jahez are the dominant platforms in AlUla |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Saleeg (creamy rice with meat) or AlUla Dates (especially the Barni variety) |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Moon Shell (Al Jadidah) – focuses on plant-based smoothie bowls and snacks (approx. 50-70 SAR) |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Pink Camel Pastry Boutique (near the Oasis) – famous for date-flavored macarons |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Panda Supermarket or the Fruit & Vegetable Market (Souq Al-Khodariyah) in the city center |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Amazon.sa and Noon.com ship to AlUla (delivery takes 3-5 days) |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
Nana or HungerStation Market |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
None (Alcohol is illegal). Nightlife consists of late-night cafes in Al Jadidah and stargazing at Gharameel |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
N/A (Non-alcoholic beers like Barbican and Moussy available in supermarkets) |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
N/A (Alcohol is prohibited) |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Winter at Tantora food kiosks; Mutabbaq and Samosas available in Al Aziziyah for 5-10 SAR |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
AlUla (Al-'Ula), Medina Province, Saudi Arabia |
| 👥 Population |
Approx. 45,000 residents |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
35-60 Mbps; 5G coverage is widespread in the Old Town and Al Jadidah zones |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
1 SAR ≈ 0.27 USD. Fixed peg to the US Dollar |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Not recommended for drinking; bottled water (e.g., Nova or Berain) is standard (2 SAR per 500ml) |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type G (British style) is the standard |
| 📶 SIM Card |
STC (Saudi Telecom Company) or Mobily; available at Prince Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz International Airport (75-150 SAR for data plans) |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Al Rajhi Bank, SNB (Al Ahli), and STC Pay (highly recommended digital wallet) |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Boutique heritage hotels and farm stays; Airbnb is growing but limited. Booking.com is the primary platform |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Yes, MADA (local debit), Visa, and Apple Pay are accepted almost everywhere including small shops |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Habitas Resort (Glamping), Sahary Al Ula Resort, or local villas on Airbnb (mostly in AlUla North) |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Palm Garden AlUla (approx. 350-500 SAR per night during peak season) |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Al Jadidah (Art District) for walkable access to restaurants and cultural landmarks |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
AlUla South / Al Aziziyah – closer to local markets, better value for longer stays, and more reliable utilities |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Design Gallery (Al Jadidah) – serves as an informal creative hub with workstations and reliable Wi-Fi |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Wacafe (Al Jadidah) – Excellent specialty coffee and laptop-friendly seating; coffee around 25 SAR |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Desert X AlUla biennials and AlUla Future Culture Summits (exclusive networking for creative professionals) |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Community meetups at 'Somewhere' restaurant in the AlUla Oasis or the 'AlUla Community' WhatsApp groups |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Kaiian or Careem (Uber operates but has fewer drivers in the remote desert zones) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
AlUla Bike Trail (near Hegra) – rentals from 50 SAR for 2 hours |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Al Wajh (Red Sea coast) – approx. 3.5 hours drive westward |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Flynas (Low-cost carrier connecting to Riyadh and Jeddah) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Saudia (Direct flights to Paris, Dubai, and major domestic hubs) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Highway 15 (Medina-AlUla Rd) and Highway 70 connect AlUla to the north and south |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
Note: No train station yet; AlUla International Airport (ULH) is the primary hub 25km southeast of the city |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
Hop-on Hop-off Tourist Shuttle (AlUla Bus) – daily passes approx. 60 SAR via ExperienceAlUla.com |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
SAPTCO Bus service to Medina (approx. 4-5 hours) for 100-120 SAR |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Territorial for resident expatriates (Personal income tax is 0% for employees) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
0% (There is currently no personal income tax in Saudi Arabia) |
| 🧾 VAT |
15% (Standard rate) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
No specific CFC rules, but Transfer Pricing regulations apply |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
2.5% Real Estate Transaction Tax (RETT) on transfer; no annual municipal property tax for residential |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
5% (Real Estate Transaction Tax) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Highly attractive: 0% income tax and simple e-visa process for many nationalities |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 4,500 SAR per m². (e.g., 40 m² = 180,000 SAR) – Limited to Saudi/GCC nationals for ownership |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 3,200 SAR per m². (e.g., 40 m² = 128,000 SAR) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 4,200 SAR per m². (e.g., 60 m² = 252,000 SAR) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 3,000 SAR per m². (e.g., 60 m² = 180,000 SAR) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 4,000 SAR per m². (e.g., 80 m² = 320,000 SAR) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 2,800 SAR per m². (e.g., 80 m² = 224,000 SAR) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
20% (for foreign-owned companies); 2.5% Zakat for Saudi/GCC entities |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
5% on dividends paid to non-residents |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
AlUla General Hospital (AlUla-Khaybar Rd) for emergencies; specialized clinics available in Medina |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Thuraya Wellness at Habitas AlUla – luxury desert yoga and meditation (classes start at 150 SAR) |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Al-Ula Club (Local sports club with fitness facilities for men) |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Local small-scale laundries (Laundry/Masbagha) in Al Aziziyah; washing and pressing a shirt for 5-10 SAR |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Hegra (UNESCO site), Maraya (World's largest mirror building), and Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Madrasat Addeera (Arts and crafts school) and the outdoor galleries of Al Jadidah |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Dadan (Ancient capital of the Lihyanite Kingdom) and Jabal Ikmah (the 'Open Library' of inscriptions) |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Al-Zawiya Mosque in the Old Town |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Winter at Tantora Festival (December to March) featuring live concerts and hot air balloons |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
AlUla Old Town (Heritage village) and Al Jadidah (Arts district) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Maraya Concert Hall – hosts world-class musical performances |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Old Town Souq – artisanal crafts, citrus perfumes, and locally made textiles |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Desert symphony sessions and live acoustic sets at Elephant Rock |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Murals by local artists throughout the Al Jadidah 'Arty District' |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Dates and Citrus culinary workshops offered during the AlUla Citrus Festival (Jan-Feb) |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Athr Gallery (seasonal pop-ups) and the Design Space AlUla |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
AlUla Old Town Castle (Musa bin Nusayr Castle) |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
The 'Tantora' sundial used by locals to track the seasons and water distribution |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Sharaan Nature Reserve – home to Arabian leopards and gazelles |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Harrat Uwayrid – volcanic plateau with stunning panoramic views of the valley |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
The AlUla Oasis Heritage Trail (3km walk through palm groves and ancient farms) |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Harrat Viewpoint – best at sunset with a view of the entire valley |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
AlUla Oasis – home to migratory birds and local species in the date palms |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Many desert camps allow fires; Elephant Rock has designated seating areas with small fire pits during winter |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Aramex and SMSA Express (located in the commercial center) |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Small mobile shops in the Al Aziziyah district (limited high-end laptop repair available) |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Local youth clubs in the city center |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
General English/Arabic classes via AlUla Language Center |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Design Space AlUla library and research center in Al Jadidah |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Madrasat Addeera – focus on community craft and heritage preservation |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
High-tech gaming cafes near the main highway (PC gaming focused) |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
None (Gambling is illegal in Saudi Arabia) |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING AL ULA