AlUla Arts Festival 2025 announces a seasonal lineup of exhibitions

AlUla Arts Festival announced a program of performances, exhibitions and distinguished activities that highlight the best local, regional and international artistic creativity, during the period from January 16 to February 22, 2025.
The annual AlUla Arts Festival is part of the “Ula Moments” agenda, and is a prominent international arts event that provides an immersive experience for arts and culture lovers, and a platform to explore the past and future creative vision of the city of AlUla.
The “New Hay Arts Square” forms the beating heart of the festival, and it is a lively creativity center that will transfer the atmosphere of the event to several major locations in AlUla. The square offers a diverse public program that hosts a group of workshops, educational and dialogue sessions for adults and families.

A supportive destination

Executive Director of the Arts and Creative Industries Sector at the Royal Commission for AlUla, Noura Al-Dabal, said: “We are proud to continue our legacy as a global center for arts and culture with the new edition of the AlUla Arts Festival. This year’s festival program enhances AlUla’s status as a destination that supports creativity and art, where handicrafts meet.” Ancient times with contemporary artistic practices, and artworks amidst stunning natural surroundings.”
It is expected that this year’s edition of the festival will add a new spirit to AlUla’s role as a well-established cultural center, by bringing together the past, present and future, and the events and activities include: (Wadi Al Fan, which presents “Dhikra: A Night of Memories”: as well as the “Dhikra” show. On January 25, 26 and 27, following its world premiere in AlUla, the performance will be adapted into an indoor version for theatres, bringing the culture, heritage and arts of AlUla to a wider audience around the world.
From January 16 to April 19, Wadi Al-Fan presents an exhibition showcasing the works of the pioneering artist in the field of light and space, James Turrell. The most prominent exhibits include designs, plans and a map of the constellations for the artist’s upcoming artistic commission in Wadi Al-Fan. Light projection works and a piece of glass from the collection of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula Governorate were displayed. For contemporary art.

External installations

From January 16 to February 22, the AlUla Arts Festival is presented in cooperation with the Khawla Foundation for Arts and Culture, to celebrate the rich legacy of Arabic calligraphy and includes three sections, each of which focuses on Arabic calligraphy, which are external installations: This section includes an installation work by Her Highness Sheikha Khawla bint Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, inspired by her work “Life”.
The Exhibitions Department displays a solo exhibition by the Lebanese artist Ghaleb Hawila. A group exhibition features a variety of masterpieces of Arabic calligraphy, including works by Wissam Shawkat, Abdullah Akkar, and typographic designs by Ibrahim Zaki, among others, while the Calligraphy Shop invites visitors to explore everyday products decorated with Arabic calligraphy.
He transformed a historic house into an indoor gallery featuring luxurious abayas, furniture and jewelry.

Unique heritage

From January 16 to April 19: AlUla Design Space returns for its second edition, bringing together two of the most prominent creative centers in AlUla, and highlighting the region’s unique heritage through innovative design. This event highlights the harmony between tradition and modernity, which forms the identity of AlUla. Artistic.
For the first time, the exhibition in the AlUla Design Space presents works completed within the Deira School, confirming the depth of the interaction between the past and the present.

Sensory experience

The exhibition offers a comprehensive sensory experience, inviting visitors to explore the natural beauty and craftsmanship of AlUla, while evoking the textures, smells, sounds and visuals that tell the story of the transformation of Al Deira School from a historic girls’ school into a vibrant center for arts and design.
From January 16 to April 19, an outdoor photography exhibition entitled “Remy Necessity” will be held within the Al Jadida Arts District, featuring the works of artists Maha Malluh and Tayseer Batniji. As part of the new Museum of Contemporary Art in AlUla, the exhibition allows visitors to delve into the artists’ memories. , which reflects the importance of artistic practices.
And from December 12 to February 27: Saudi artist Sarah Ibrahim and French artist Oguchiavi present “Noma: The Forgotten Ceremony”, the first collaborative artistic work that embodies the identity of the Al-Hijr Villa – the Saudi-French institution that will be opened in the center of AlUla.
The project includes an indoor exhibition at Dar Tantora and a glass installation in Wadi Al-Naam. The exhibition displays glass sculptures inspired by local stones and a documentary about their research process.

Echoes of time

From January 16 to April 19: The “Echoes of Time” exhibition will be held, presented by “Athar Gallery” and includes works by Dania Al-Saleh and Susan Kariman, under the supervision of Salma Al-Khalidi. The exhibition celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the excavations carried out by the German Archaeological Institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a project A collaborative work bridging the ancient and the contemporary, exploring how ordinary and extraordinary discoveries impact our understanding and awareness.
Against the backdrop of the archaeological sites of Taima and AlUla, the “Echoes of Time” exhibition invites viewers to rethink the desert landscape as not only an archaeology but also a world in which history and the present intersect in countless ways.
Alongside the main exhibitions of the AlUla Arts Festival, there are plenty of activities that immerse visitors in the creative spirit of AlUla. From January 25 to 29, the AlUla Artist Residency Studios invites guests to explore the works of six Saudi and international artists who are part of the AlUla Artist Residency program, and gain unique insights. About their creative works.

Live shows

AlUla Music Center hosts live performances from the New Arts District and the Old City, and presents a diverse range of works that include Arabic, fusion, singing, and jazz styles, reflecting the diversity of regional and international talents. The audience will have the opportunity to learn about diverse cinematic cultures.
The Deira School’s public program continues throughout the year, offering hands-on activities that celebrate AlUla’s long tradition of arts and crafts. Through its diverse offerings, the AlUla Arts Festival provides an inspiring platform for creative expression and cultural dialogue, connecting visitors to the region’s unique heritage and contemporary vision. .
AlUla Moments invited all those interested to view all information about the festival and how to book tickets to attend the festival’s shows, by visiting the dedicated website experiencealula.com.