Architect Jean Nouvel talks about design for resort among Al-Ula’s rocks

Jean Nouvel, the French architect who is designing a resort among the rocks of Al-Ula, told Arab News that he believes the heritage area will become a global tourist destination. (Screenshot/Arab News)
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Updated 19 December 2019
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Architect Jean Nouvel talks about design for resort among Al-Ula’s rocks

  • The region is known for its natural landscapes, including its sandstone rock formations, and archaeological sites
  • Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched mega tourism projects in Al-Ula on Sunday

AL-ULA, Saudi Arabia: Jean Nouvel, the French architect who is designing a resort among the rocks of Al-Ula, told Arab News that he believes the heritage area will become a global tourist destination because of its unique qualities.

The rebirth of AlUla
Hegra, ancient city of the Nabataeans in Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley, is emerging from the mists of time to take its rightful place as one of the wonders of the world

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“Building Sharaan Resort represents an amazing opportunity because of its location on one of the world’s important historic sites,” he told Arab News, in an exclusive interview, speaking in French.
The region is known for its natural landscapes, including its sandstone rock formations, and archaeological sites such as Madain Saleh, the largest Nabatean settlement south of Petra that contains the ancient civilization’s rock tombs with their carved facades. In 2008, it was designated as Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage site.

Nouvel said that Sharaan Resort will be located among the rocks deep in a valley inside a 925-square-kilometer Sharaan Nature Reserve; both take their name from the surrounding canyon, which is a short trip away from Madain Saleh.
Both are cornerstones in the new vision for Al-Ula, which was launched Sunday night by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula.

 

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READ MORE: Saudi Arabia’s crown prince launches mega tourism projects in ancient area of Al-Ula

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“I think that for an architect to build a project on such a site is a rare and wonderful opportunity,” said Nouvel, who brought the world’s attention to the UAE for his design of Louvre Abu Dhabi when it opened in 2017. “The area is characterized by the diversity and precision of its unique embossments that were defined by the movement of the wind and the water.”
While the full design not due until the end of this year, Nouvel said that it will be built among the rocks in Sharaan. “I actually established the relation between history and modernity by using the region’s geographical nature, especially the rocks,” he said. “We will rely on the knowledge to create some internal fresh spaces similar to the patios found in the Arab culture.”

“I thought that we could use the rocks because their temperature is always at 20 degrees. It will allow us to welcome guests inside the rocks without consuming a lot of energy. It also offers them the chance to get on top of the rocks and contemplate the magnificent sceneries.
“That is why I think visitors will be happy and amazed here. They will come to spend a few days and interact with one another. This could turn architecture and culture into a means of connection, a better way to understand and express the culture and pleasures of an era through the furnished units.”

The resort will include residential estates, a summit center, a spa and restaurants. Construction is expected to begin in early 2020, with a completion date of 2023. The reserve will conserve and restore the region’s natural desert habitats, including the Arabian leopard, with the help of local rangers trained by international experts.
Both will be crucial to realizing the ambitious goals of the commission, which aims, by 2035, to attract 2 million visitors to the area, creating 38,000 jobs and generating SR120 billion ($32 billion). It is also in keeping with the crown prince’s Vision 2030, which aims to develop the Kingdom’s tourism sector and provide the younger generation with the skills that they need for the future as it diversifies the economy away from its dependence on oil.

The commission has already launched a scholarship program to train Saudi students in the US, the UK and France in the fields of tourism and archaeology; this year, it will add architecture and environmental planning to the mix. The Hammayah program will also provide up to 2,500 opportunities for local men and women to get involved in a community effort to preserve the wonders of Al-Ula.
The project is all about “locals, locals, locals,” Rami Al-Sakran, capabilities development manager for the commission, who is leading the Al-Ula scholarship program, told Arab News at the announcement on Sunday. “Without the locals, we can’t succeed.”
The plan was launched at a groundbreaking ceremony at Maraya, a concert hall with a mirrored facade that was built for the Winter at Tantora festival, which will bring visitors to the untouched area for two more weekends.
“This is just so beautiful, the desert and the sky at night, the stars… the natural beauty here is stunning,” Yanni told Arab News at the ceremony. “I have never experienced this type of beauty before in my life.”

The rebirth of AlUla
Hegra, ancient city of the Nabataeans in Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley, is emerging from the mists of time to take its rightful place as one of the wonders of the world

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Digital solutions to support Hajj sacrifices this year

Adahi has finalized preparations at seven specialized field complexes spanning more than 1 million sq. meters. (SPA)
Updated 16 sec ago
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Digital solutions to support Hajj sacrifices this year

  • So far, 770,000 livestock have been received, surpassing the initial target of 750,000, with continuous deliveries from supplier farms underway

RIYADH: The National Platform for Charitable Work, Ehsan, continues to provide sacrificial animal services for the Hajj season in partnership with the Kingdom’s Project for the Utilization of Hady and Adahi.

The initiative offers pilgrims a seamless and reliable way to fulfill the ritual through trusted digital solutions, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The operation is coordinated with more than 500 charitable and civil society organizations to ensure that sacrificial meat reaches those most in need, both locally and internationally. (SPA)

Adahi has finalized preparations at seven specialized field complexes spanning more than 1 million sq. meters. These are supported by more than 25,000 trained personnel, including 600 Islamic scholars, more than 500 veterinarians, 16,500 butchers and assistants, and 400 technicians.

Advanced technologies have been integrated into the operation, such as automated weighing, real-time tracking, and modern refrigeration and sterilization systems, to ensure the safety, quality, and efficiency of meat processing and distribution.

Sacrifices will be carried out at a rate of one every seven seconds using a fully digitized system, enabling donors — both inside and outside the Kingdom — to perform the ritual through the Ehsan platform with ease and peace of mind.

The project offers a secure, three-language website for the convenient purchase of sacrificial bonds, catering to people of diverse nationalities. So far, 770,000 livestock have been received, surpassing the initial target of 750,000, with continuous deliveries from supplier farms underway.

The upcoming humanitarian distribution will cover all 13 administrative regions of the Kingdom and extend to more than 27 countries worldwide. The operation is coordinated with more than 500 charitable and civil society organizations to ensure that sacrificial meat reaches those most in need, both locally and internationally.

 


Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide

Updated 03 June 2025
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Saudi Interior Ministry issues Hajj safety and security guide

  • It provides detailed instructions for pilgrims, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of routes to key ritual sites
  • It also highlights peak times at the mosque, guidance on the use of vehicles and explains crowd-management protocols

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior on Tuesday published a comprehensive guide designed to ensure the safety, security and smooth movement of pilgrims during Hajj.

It provides detailed instructions for the pilgrimage experience, including directions to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and maps of pedestrian routes and walkways leading to key ritual sites such as the Tawaf and Sa’i zones.

To help manage the crowds and ensure orderly movement of pilgrims, the guide highlights peak times within the Grand Mosque and its courtyards, as well as guidance on the use of vehicles during Hajj season.

It also explains crowd-management protocols, and stresses the important need for all pilgrims to adhere to designated grouping times when performing rituals during the various stages of the pilgrimage, including Tawaf, Sa’i and the stoning of the Jamarat.

The ministry said the guide is designed to help pilgrims perform their rituals safely, easily and with peace of mind, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It reiterated that official regulations require all pilgrims performing Hajj to have a permit, and warned of penalties for any person who breaks these rules.

Citizens and residents were urged to comply with all Hajj-related regulations and report any violations by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other parts of the Kingdom.

Click here to view the Hajj guide online. Hajj begins on Wednesday, June 4, and concludes on Monday, June 9.


Palestinian pilgrims express gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive Hajj support 

Updated 03 June 2025
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Palestinian pilgrims express gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive Hajj support 

  • Palestinian pilgrim Ayman Saleh expressed joy at being selected for Hajj this year

MAKKAH: Several Palestinian pilgrims hosted under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah — supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs — offer their thanks to the Kingdom. 

They said the initiative reflected King Salman’s care for Muslims worldwide and his commitment to ensuring they can perform Hajj with dignity and ease, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Palestinian pilgrim Ayman Saleh expressed joy at being selected for Hajj this year and thanked the Saudi leadership for the exceptional services and warm welcome extended to Palestinian pilgrims. 

Pilgrim Hussein Kamal praised the outstanding facilities, saying they reflect the Kingdom’s dedication to serving Palestinian pilgrims and helping them perform Hajj comfortably. He expressed deep appreciation to the Saudi leadership for this generous gesture.

Hundreds of relatives of Palestinian political prisoners and martyrs have arrived to perform Hajj under the program. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday, bringing the total number of Palestinians to 1,000. 

Since its launch in 1996, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ program has hosted thousands of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. This year, the program is hosting 2,443 pilgrims from 100 countries.


Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

Updated 03 June 2025
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Municipalities Ministry launches home delivery permit service, effective July 1

  • Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Municipalities and Housing launched the Home Delivery Permit service for food and non-food delivery establishments via the Balady platform, Saudi Press Agency reported Tuesday.

This initiative supports ongoing efforts to enhance the quality of life and elevate safety and compliance standards within the delivery sector across the Kingdom.

The delivery service aims to regulate delivery operations within cities by ensuring establishments comply with health and technical requirements, thereby contributing to a safe and efficient environment that enhances consumer confidence.

The requirements for the permit include obtaining a health certificate for all home delivery service workers, securing approval from the authority supervising the commercial activity, clearly displaying the establishment’s name or trademark on delivery vehicles, and ensuring these vehicles comply with the technical and health standards necessary for safe product transportation.

The ministry explained that mandatory enforcement of license issuance will begin on July 1, 2025.

Municipalities will carry out field inspections to ensure compliance and will take regulatory action against violators.

Business owners can apply for the home delivery permit through the Balady platform by visiting: https://balady.gov.sa/en/services/issue-home-delivery-permit.

This initiative is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to develop the regulatory framework for the services sector and to ensure the provision of safe delivery services, in line with the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030.

Last month, the ministry announced the launch of the Balady Plus app — an intelligent platform aimed at enhancing quality of life in Saudi cities and facilitating daily mobility for residents and visitors.

According to the ministry, Balady Plus was developed by national talents to be more than just a navigation tool. It offers an interactive 3D map experience with precise local content that reflects the real landscape of Saudi cities and adapts to their changes in real time.

The application features smart mobility services, including live updates on roads, locations, and services. It also supports indoor navigation in commercial centers, alerts users about speed bumps, obstacles, and road closures, and integrates data from government entities and the local community.


20 years after embracing Islam, Uruguayan Muslim fulfills his Hajj dream in Makkah

Updated 03 June 2025
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20 years after embracing Islam, Uruguayan Muslim fulfills his Hajj dream in Makkah

MAKKAH: Luis Abi Rachid, a 70-year-old pilgrim from Uruguay and a guest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj and Umrah, shared the story of his first-ever flight, which he took this year to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.

After being selected for the program, supervised and implemented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Rachid described the journey as one filled with peace and spiritual fulfillment, marking the realization of his lifelong wish to perform the fifth pillar of Islam.

“I arrived in the holy land with indescribable feelings,” he said. “I was on my way to perform Umrah and see the Holy Kaaba for the first time in my life, after only seeing it on television. My heart overflowed with longing for this sacred place.

“Hajj is a dream, especially for new Muslims,” Rachid continued.

“When I was selected for the program, I felt a joy beyond words. All praise is due to Allah Almighty, and then to the leadership of Saudi Arabia for turning my dream — and the dreams of many Muslims around the world — into reality.”

Rachid recounted that his journey to Islam began 20 years ago, when a Muslim friend introduced him to the faith over the course of three months.

During that time, he learned about the Holy Qur’an and the practice of prayer, eventually becoming convinced that Islam is the true religion. Since embracing Islam, he has deepened his faith and understanding and has long dreamed of performing Hajj and visiting the Holy Kaaba.

“I declared my Islam without ever expecting that I would embrace the faith, as I had never considered it,” Rachid said.

“But Allah Almighty guided me and brought me from darkness into spiritual clarity. I felt a peace and inner security I had never known. Islam is a religion of balance, moderation, and tranquility — free from excess, extremism, or rigidity. All praise be to Allah Almighty for guiding me and making me one of the Muslims.”

He expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their efforts in serving Islam and Muslims and prayed for Saudi Arabia’s continued growth, progress, and prosperity.