RIYADH, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia on Thursday launched the Ancient Kingdoms Festival 2025 in the historic city of AlUla.
Running from Nov. 20 to Dec. 6, the event honors the civilizations that once thrived in AlUla through immersive storytelling and experiences. It is one of the five flagship festivals of the AlUla Moments calendar, which introduces a diverse lineup of festivals and events designed to unlock AlUla's stories, reveal its hidden layers, and celebrate both local and global cultures.
Held under this year's theme "Journeys Through Time," the festival transforms AlUla into a living open-air museum, where heritage activities, cultural performances, and artistic creations bring the stories of ancient civilizations to life, offering visitors an immersive experience that bridges day and night.
In his welcome address, Abdulrahman AlSuhaibani, vice president of culture at the Royal Commission for AlUla, called the historic city one of the "complex and often unexpected legacies of ancient North-West Arabia."
"Through this festival, and the activations we deliver year-round, we aim to share this rich history and make it accessible and engaging for everybody, standing as a source of knowledge, inspiration, delight, and enrichment," AlSuhaibani said.
AlUla is located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The most well-known and recognised site in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. ■
