AlUla Manara: Saudi Arabia Approves Design for Major Astrotourism Center

Saudi Arabia has taken another step in the development of tourism in AlUla: The Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for AlUla has approved the design of AlUla Manara, a future complex featuring an astronomical observatory, a research center, and visitor spaces. For travelers, this is important not as a new attraction that is already open, but as a signal: the kingdom is developing not only beach resorts and air connections, but also niche tourism centered around nature, science, dark skies, and premium desert experiences.

The news emerged on June 17, 2026, and concerns one of Saudi Arabia's most distinct tourist destinations. AlUla is already being promoted as a place of archaeological heritage, desert landscapes, art events, and nature trails. Now, astrotourism is being added more clearly to this set: travel for the purpose of observing the starry sky, educational programs, night excursions, and experiences that are difficult to replicate in large cities due to light pollution.

AlUla Manara, whose name translates to "lighthouse," is intended to be more than just an observation deck. According to reports from the Saudi Gazette and Arab News, citing the Saudi Press Agency, the project will include a modern astronomical observatory, a visitor center, research spaces, telescopes, observation platforms, exhibitions, and interactive formats. It is specifically noted that the complex is planned to be equipped with a main telescope with a diameter of four meters and two additional telescopes of two meters each. This combination makes the project notable not only for tourism but also for the scientific and educational community.

What Exactly Saudi Arabia Approved

The key fact is that currently, this is about the approval of the design, not the opening of a completed facility. This is an important distinction for tourists: AlUla Manara already has an officially approved concept, but travelers should not yet plan their trip as if the center is fully operational. The practical significance of the news lies elsewhere: the AlUla destination is receiving another major infrastructure project that could increase demand for trips to northwestern Saudi Arabia in the coming years.

The complex is planned to be located more than 70 kilometers north of the town of AlUla, between the Harrat Uwayrid Nature Reserve and the Gharameel area. The site was chosen due to the low level of light pollution and favorable conditions for sky observation. This is not a random detail: for astrotourism, the quality of the dark sky is as important as a beach for a seaside resort or a convenient transfer for an aviation hub.

According to the project description, the architecture is to be based on the natural and cultural landscape of AlUla. Reports mention the use of local sandstone in the decoration, panoramic views of the desert environment, and the design's connection to the region's historical interest in astronomy. Heatherwick Studio, which presented the visual materials of the project, describes AlUla Manara as a center for dark skies and celestial research, where exhibition spaces, a planetarium, an observation roof, and research functions are intended to work together.

Why AlUla is Becoming a Hub for Astrotourism

AlUla has several advantages that make the theme of astrotourism logical. First, it is a remote desert region with landscapes that already have tourist appeal during the day: rock formations, canyons, archaeological sites, the old town, and nature trails. Second, the night sky here is gradually turning into a separate tourist product. DarkSky International describes AlUla Dark Sky Parks as territories with exceptionally dark open skies, also noting an area of 6,146 square kilometers and the category of International Dark Sky Park.

This creates a rare combination: a tourist can come not only for a tour of historical sites but also stay for night programs, stargazing, educational events, or special tours. For destinations seeking to increase the average length of stay, such formats have particular value. They provide a reason to book not a short stopover, but a full trip with overnight stays, transfers, a guide, and seasonal planning.

At the same time, astrotourism requires discipline. Excessive lighting of hotels, roads, entertainment zones, or advertising structures can quickly destroy the main asset — the dark sky. This is why reports about AlUla Manara specifically mention measures to reduce light pollution, regulating external lighting, light direction, and excessive glare. For the tourism market, this is an important marker: development must not destroy the resource upon which it is based.

What This Means for Travelers

For tourists, the news has several practical implications. First, AlUla should be perceived as a destination where seasonality, night activities, and logistics matter no less than the list of sights. A trip for sky observation requires more careful planning: moon phases, weather, atmospheric transparency, sunset time, distance to locations, and night travel rules can affect the quality of the experience.

Second, travelers should distinguish between activities already available and future projects. On the official tourism website Experience AlUla, excursions, cultural routes, tours, and practical travel information are already presented. AlUla Manara, on the other hand, is the next stage of development. Therefore, the smartest strategy for a tourist now is to follow official updates regarding construction timelines, opening, booking, observatory access, and possible visitor restrictions.

Third, a trip to AlUla can increasingly be combined with other routes in Saudi Arabia. If a traveler flies through the country's major hubs, it is useful to check connections and ground logistics in advance. For arrivals via the capital, you can review information about Riyadh Airport (RUH), and for routes through the west of the country — information about Jeddah Airport (JED). If the trip involves an overnight stay before a flight or after arrival, it is also appropriate to check hotels near Riyadh Airport or hotels near Jeddah Airport.

Why This is Important for the Saudi Arabian Tourism Market

AlUla Manara fits well into Saudi Arabia's broader strategy, which seeks to expand the country's tourist image. In recent years, the kingdom has actively promoted the Red Sea, cultural events, major sporting events, new hotel projects, aviation routes, and historical locations. Astrotourism adds another segment to this mosaic — travelers seeking not only comfort, but also a unique environment, silence, nature, knowledge, and a sense of place.

For the market, this is particularly valuable because such trips are less like mass urban vacations. They can attract families with an educational interest, premium tourists, photographers, nature lovers, scientific groups, travelers from Europe and Asia, as well as guests from the Gulf countries. If the project is implemented with quality, it can strengthen AlUla's position as a destination where the tourist product is not limited to a single day of sightseeing.

Special significance is given to the combination of science and tourism. Reports mention cooperation with the Saudi Space Agency, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the SETI Institute. This allows the future complex to be positioned not only as a beautiful building in the desert, but as a space where visitors can see the connection between research, education, and travel. Such a format meets the modern demand for meaningful experiences: tourists increasingly want to understand why they are going to a specific place, rather than just getting a set of photographs.

What to Note Before a Future Trip

While AlUla Manara is at the stage of approved design, tourists should plan their trip to AlUla based on already available services and not include the observatory visit as a guaranteed item on the itinerary. When official opening dates appear, it will be necessary to check booking rules, age restrictions, availability of excursions in English or other languages, transport to the location, night tour conditions, and seasonal recommendations.

• check official AlUla tourism channels before booking;
• plan night activities considering weather, moon phases, and transfer time;
• do not confuse design approval with the opening of the facility for tourists;
• for complex routes through Saudi Arabia, check connections, hotels, and ground transport in advance;
• evaluate the trip to AlUla as a comprehensive route: heritage, nature, desert landscapes, and the night sky work together.

For air travelers, this also means that demand for convenient transfers and ground travel may grow along with the development of AlUla. If the route passes through the capital hub, it is worth checking the Riyadh Airport online board and transfer options from RUH airport in advance. For travel via Jeddah, the JED airport online board and the page about transfers from Jeddah airport may be useful.

Conclusion

The approval of the AlUla Manara design is not a short news item about another tourist attraction, but part of a broader shift in travel within Saudi Arabia. The country is seeks to create destinations that combine infrastructure, nature, culture, and science. For AlUla, the future astrotourism center can become a strong addition to the already known historical and desert experiences, and for tourists — a reason to look more closely at travel where the main event is not only a place on earth, but also the sky above it.

The main thing for travelers is to maintain a practical approach. AlUla Manara is not yet an open tourist product, but the very appearance of the approved design shows the direction of development for the region. If the project is implemented with proper attention to the dark sky, accessibility, and service quality, AlUla may obtain one of the most prominent astrotourism locations in the Middle East.