Al Ula oasis in Saudi Arabia



Al Ula is know for the location of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hegra, the large oasis and the stunning landscape.
Although most people knows Al Ula for the heritage site, the oasis is truly a gem. The old town of Al Ula with its fortification on top of a rock formation lies beside the manmade oasis and citizens used to live periods of time inside the oasis and periods inside the old town.
The oasis is a large extension of agriculture land originally planted in the three typical levels: crops on the ground level and fruit trees scattered under the regular plantation of date palms. The shade of the palms protects crops and fruit trees from the blazing sun.
The traditional irrigation system is by flooding, opening and closing earth channels to reach all the palm basins. It also irrigates the rest of the plantations and generates a microclimate that you feel right when you enter the palm forest.