AlUla has long drawn visitors for its archaeological sites — Hegra, the ancient Nabataean city carved into sandstone; the Elephant Rock; the Old Town; and Dadan, the pre-Islamic kingdom whose stone-cut tombs line a mountain face above the valley. A quieter but equally deliberate ambition has been running alongside the archaeological work: turning AlUla into a cultural destination in its own right, with contemporary art playing a central role.
The latest step in that process is a partnership with the Centre Pompidou, one of the world’s most recognised modern art institutions. The partnership, announced earlier this year, will bring temporary exhibition spaces to AlUla ahead of a planned permanent museum facility expected to open between 2027 and 2028. The permanent museum — its architecture not yet publicly finalised — is intended to be the anchor institution of AlUla’s cultural quarter.
Wadi AlFann: Valley of Arts
Running alongside the Pompidou partnership is the development of Wadi AlFann, or Valley of Arts — a large-scale outdoor programme of commissioned sculptures and installations set into AlUla’s landscape. The concept positions the desert and sandstone terrain as the exhibition space itself, with major works from internationally recognised artists becoming permanent features of the valley.
Desert X AlUla, the biennial art event that has placed temporary installations across the landscape since 2020, has been the precursor to Wadi AlFann. Works from past editions have included large-scale geometric forms, site-responsive interventions in the rock, and audio pieces tied to specific locations in the valley. Wadi AlFann formalises this approach into a permanent collection.
What It Means for Visitors
For travellers who have been to AlUla primarily for Hegra or the Maraya concert hall and want to understand what else is emerging, the answer is: a credible and growing arts infrastructure that rewards a longer stay.
Temporary Pompidou exhibitions are expected to be running by late 2026, ahead of the permanent museum’s completion. Wadi AlFann’s outdoor works are accessible on a guided tour basis through the Experience AlUla booking platform.
The practical position of AlUla — reachable via direct flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, and several Gulf cities, with a dedicated airport — means access is straightforward. Accommodation ranges from luxury eco-resorts embedded in the desert landscape to more accessible options in the main town. Most cultural sites are within a short drive or buggy transfer of the central accommodation cluster.
For those planning a trip, combining the archaeological sites with art programme visits distributes the experience across two or three days and gives the visit depth beyond a single highlight. Book guided tours in AlUla for expert-led access to Hegra, the Old Town, and the emerging art installations. See our AlUla activities guide for the full current programme, and our Hegra and Madain Salih guide for context on the site at the centre of AlUla’s cultural identity.