This week, Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, announced the upcoming launch of the world’s first-ever flying museum. The museum will be hosted on a plane during flights between Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh and the ancient city of AlUla, showcasing to passengers a replica collection of artifacts discovered in the region through years of excavations.
Join the @Discovery Channel as it delves into the mysteries of the NW Saudi Arabian desert.
— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) March 25, 2021
An archaeologists’ dream, the artifacts and structures revealed provide clues about ancient society over 7,000 years ago. Tune in on Wednesday 31 March for Architects of Ancient Arabia pic.twitter.com/el8VzZppuc
According to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the flying museum will also show a documentary by Discovery Channel called “Architects of Ancient Arabia,” which premiered earlier this year and unearths the ancient history of the Kingdom. The documentary, which looks as far back as 7,000 years into the region’s history, has an introduction by RCU’s director of archaeology and cultural heritage research, Rebecca Foote.
“There is a major load of work ongoing in AlUla by local and international archeologists, and yet we are just beginning to understand the complicated nature of AlUla’s past. AlUla is a hidden gem in the Arabian Peninsula, and we are slowly discovering its secrets. I am looking forward to sharing more information about our work with passengers of the Museum in the Sky trip, operated by Saudia,” she explains.
As we look back at the highlights from today, a key milestone in our long-term roadmap, our #AlUlaJourneyThroughTime Masterplan, will offer broader social and sustainable investment opportunities across various sectors.
— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) October 27, 2021
Join an Epic Journey.https://t.co/daRIniRFWh
Indeed, Al-Ula is an approximately 5,000-year-old expanse of golden sandstone and oases, renowned locally for its archaeological remnants, some over 2,000 years old. This ancient city was strategically located along the incense route, making it a key stop on the road between the Mediterranean and the Arab world, and it has been home to a myriad of civilizations at different points in time.
As we continue to build #AlUla into a global tourism destination, with the launch of the #AlUlaLanguagesInstitute, our talented local community can learn a language of their choice to connect with international travellers and help share the legacy of AlUla with the world. pic.twitter.com/QuwVFFYMuH
— الهيئة الملكية لمحافظة العلا (@RCU_SA) November 1, 2021
The upcoming launch of this landmark museum is a timely one as AlUla gets ready to launch a series of arts, culture, music, and wellness events for the upcoming winter season, starting December 21 and running all winter until March 31, 2022. The plethora of events, which will bring in visitors from across the globe to the Kingdom, fall under four main sections: AlUla’s renowned Winter at Tantora festival, AlUla Arts, AlUla Skies, and the AlUla Wellness Festival.
