AlUla
AlUla is an oasis governorate in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, known for Hegra, the country's first UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Mughayra Heritage Sports Village hosts the AlUla Falcon Cup, a heritage sport tournament.
The story of AlUla
AlUla is an ancient oasis in Saudi Arabia's Medina Province, in the Hejaz region. Settlement at the site of Dadan is dated to around 5000 BCE according to general reference sources.
The oasis was the seat of the Dedanite kingdom, known for its role in the incense trade, and later of the Lihyanite kingdom, which ruled from roughly the fifth to the second century BCE.
The Nabataeans then controlled the region until the Roman Empire annexed it in 106 CE, and Hegra served as their southern capital. Hegra, also called Mada'in Salih, became Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
The Royal Commission for AlUla was established in July 2017 to guide tourism development and heritage conservation in the area.
Falconry in AlUla
Saudi Arabia is among the countries on UNESCO's multinational Representative List entry for falconry. In AlUla, the Royal Commission for AlUla staged the first AlUla Falcon Cup at the Mughayra Heritage Sports Village from 28 December to 5 January (2023 to 2024).
The nine-day tournament carried a total prize pool of SAR 60 million, about 16 million US dollars. It included a daily falcon race timed by sensors and the Falcon Mazayen "best of breed" competition, with Saudi-based and international falconers taking part.
The Royal Commission presented the event as part of establishing AlUla as a home for heritage sport.
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- AlUla (Wikipedia)
- AlUla Falcons Cup announcement (Kyodo News PR Wire)
- Falconry, a living human heritage (UNESCO)
Facts on this page come from the sources below, checked on the date of writing. Check with the organiser before travelling.