Two of the world’s most remarkable open-air heritage destinations, AlUla in north-west Saudi Arabia and Pompeii in southern Italy, have come together in a new collaboration that will redefine how travellers experience the past.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) recently hosted a high-level delegation from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii (PAP) led by General Director Dr Gabriel Zuchtriegel as part of the Saudi-Italian Cultural Cooperation Framework. The visit marked a deepening of cultural ties between the two UNESCO World Heritage sites and explored how shared expertise can enhance conservation, interpretation, and visitor experience.
Set amid sweeping desert canyons and lush oases, AlUla is a living museum of human civilisation. Its signature site, Hegra, was the first place in Saudi Arabia inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is home to monumental tombs carved by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago. Surrounding it are ancient kingdoms at Dadan, mystical inscriptions at Jabal Ikmah, and the mudbrick lanes of Old Town, all revealing more than 200,000 years of continuous human history.
Over several days, experts from Pompeii and AlUla exchanged insights on how heritage sites can evolve to meet the expectations of modern travellers while safeguarding authenticity. Workshops and site tours focused on conservation methods, visitor flow, digital storytelling, and sustainable tourism.
The visit also demonstrated the complementary nature of both destinations. While Pompeii represents a moment frozen in time, AlUla tells a story of resilience and continuity, where heritage, landscape, and living culture remain intertwined.
For travellers, this collaboration promises more engaging storytelling, advanced conservation techniques, and immersive experiences that bring history vividly to life, whether walking the sun-baked streets of Pompeii or exploring the ancient tombs of Hegra beneath AlUla’s desert stars.