Winter at Tantora returns to AlUla

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Saudi Arabia’s popular winter festival in AlUla, Winter at Tantora, returns this month for its seventh edition, bringing global performances and experiences reflecting the kingdom’s ancient and modern heritage. Camels, the resilient desert animals and a national symbol of Saudi Arabia, are celebrated once again in the 10th edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival. Elsewhere, Saudi artist Muhannad Shono will exhibit his work in Tashkent, Uzbekistan next year, while Moath Alofi’s poignant photography will be featured in the Red Sea Museum’s inaugural exhibition, opening this weekend in Jeddah.

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Rebecca

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1. Leading the week: Winter at Tantora returns to AlUla

A winter solstice celebration during Winter at Tantoura 2024. (Royal Commission for AlUla)

Now in its seventh edition, AlUla’s flagship cultural winter festival, Winter at Tantoura, returns to Saudi Arabia’s desert region for three weeks. One of the kingdom’s most popular festivals, it invites visitors from near and far to experience the magic of AlUla during one of its most enchanting times of year. Under this year’s theme, Winter Brings Us Together, the landscape — renowned for its striking desert rock formations — will be transformed into a tapestry of cultural moments, featuring performances by world-famous artists and immersive experiences spanning heritage, music, art, gastronomy and storytelling.

This edition is both rooted in AlUla’s ancient history and introduces a host of new experiences including Midday at Tantora, which explores the origins of the Tantora sundial, the ancient timekeeping method that gave the festival its name. Elsewhere, the Tantora Square Community Celebrations mark the beginning of the winter planting season through community gathering and ritual. During Old Town Nights, visitors can explore AlUla’s Old Town — once a maze of mud-brick houses, shops and squares inhabited until the 1980s. The settlement, which dates back to the 12th century and sits beneath a 10th-century fort, comes alive with street art, heritage storytelling, dinner-show experiences and live performances.

Music, song and dance are central to Winter at Tantora. The season opens with Shorfat Tantora, which features live music drifting from the rooftops of AlJadidah as musical groups perform from balconies overlooking what was once known as the Incense Road, an ancient trade route for incense and spices. As part of the program, the Thanaya Concert Series returns to an open-air venue where guests can enjoy performances beneath the night sky, including a show by Emirati singer and actress Ahlam on Dec. 26. On Dec. 31, two of the Arab world’s most celebrated voices — Syrian star Assala Nasri and Lebanese singer Adam — will close out 2025. A number of world-class artists will also take the stage at Maraya, the region’s mirror-clad venue, including vocalist Wael Kfoury on Dec. 19 and Lebanese superstar Elissa on Jan. 9.

Date: Dec. 18 to Jan. 10, 2026 

Location: Various in AlUla

Find more information here.

2. Word on the street: Harrat

Captivating desert views at Harrat, a restaurant in Banyan Tree AlUla Resort. (Harrat)

Located in the upscale Banyan Tree AlUla Resort in the region’s Ashar Valley, this contemporary all-day dining restaurant offers breathtaking views of the desert landscape and an eclectic menu featuring Pan-Arab specialties alongside international dishes. The soft, neutral interior tones reflect the hues of the surrounding desert and incorporates locally made handicrafts such as rugs and earthenware, creating an authentic ambiance that bridges Bedouin culture and upscale contemporary design.

Featured in the Michelin Guide for its culinary offerings, the restaurant highlights regional flavors such as umami-rich muhammara served with soft Arabic flatbread, a traditional Saudi lamb and vegetable stew called margoog, a selection of seafood and Middle Eastern mezze, much of it sourced from AlUla’s sustainable farms. For dessert, try the layered moringa cake, infused with the locally grown plants used in cosmetic and medicinal oils and now a distinctive flavor in AlUla’s cuisine.

Location: Banyan Tree, AlUla

Find more information here.

3. Riyadh diary

Camels pose during the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Riyadh. (Visit Saudi)

• King Abdulaziz Camel Festival Marks 10th Year

One of the kingdom’s most significant cultural events, now in its 10th year, the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival returns to its annual location in Al Sayahid in the southern part of the Al Dahna Desert, near Riyadh. 

The camel is a national symbol of Saudi Arabia, representing resilience, authenticity and Islamic heritage. The majestic desert animal, known for its endurance and adaptability, is celebrated in the festival through competitions, cultural programs and activities for the community. 

Camels have a long and storied history in Arabia, with evidence such as prehistoric camel carvings in Saudi Arabia suggesting their presence in the region as far back as 7,000-8,000 BC.

The festival also features the famous camel beauty pageants known as Mazayna, along with camel races and other showcases highlighting the animal’s endurance and cultural significance. Prize money has been substantial in recent years, ranging from $15 million to $66 million across various categories. In addition, traditional performances, interactive experiences and a folk market offer visitors a glimpse into Bedouin desert life from long ago.

Date: Until January 3, 2026

Location: Al Sayahid in the Al Dahna Desert

Find more information here

• Saudi artist Muhannad Shono to present work in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

One of Saudi Arabia’s leading contemporary artists, Muhannad Shono — who represented the kingdom at the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022 — will participate in Hikmah (Uzbek, Arabic and Farsi for “wisdom”), the opening exhibition of Uzbekistan’s Center for Contemporary Art, slated for March 2026.

Shono developed the foundations of his forthcoming work during a summer residency at the Center, where he conducted research across Tashkent and the surrounding region. As part of this process, he visited the Sun Heliocomplex, a Soviet-era solar furnace in the Parkent district, which informed his research. 

Shono is creating a tower-like structure for the museum’s courtyard using materials inspired by his residency experience and centered on the idea of nafas, or breath, in Arabic.

Date: March 21-end of June, 2026

Location: Center for Contemporary Art, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Find more information here

• The Gates of Gates by Moath Alofi

The inaugural exhibition of the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, curated by Philippe Cardinal, features a series of photographs by Saudi artist Moath Alofi documenting the historic Bab al-Building, its transformation into the museum and the artifacts and architecture that remain. Alofi’s poignant works trace the building’s role as a major gateway for Muslim pilgrims traveling to Mecca and highlight its cultural preservation through its new function as a museum.

“I shot for around four days, constantly, every day, and then edited for around one month,” Alofi told Al-Monitor, adding that it took place during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. “I documented the entire place, and a selection made by the curator will be exhibited. I tackled everything about the building, from the electrical sockets to cracks in the wall and its overall abandoned state.”

Date: Dec. 6 - Feb. 8

Location: Red Sea Museum, Jeddah 

Find more information here 

4. Book of the week: ‘The Passionate Spies’

This book by John Harte explores how Gertude Bell, St. John Philby and Lawrence of Arabia ignited the Arab Revolt and how Saudi Arabia was founded. Published in 2022, Harte charts the true story of how three British Secret Service agents from the Arab Bureau in Cairo helped General Allenby defeat the Turks, Germany's ally, and end World War I. The author describes the nomadic life of the Bedouin tribes and the founding of oil-rich Saudi Arabia by King Ibn Saud and how these figures converged during a critical moment in modern global politics.

5. View from Riyadh

A cultural event during Winter at Tantora in AlUla during 2024. (Royal Commission for AlUla)

6. By the numbers

• In October, in northwestern Saudi Arabia's city of Hail, an auction of rare and distinctive camel breeds topped 5.7 million Saudi riyals ($1.5 million), according to the Saudi Press Agency.
• The 2024 King Abdulaziz Camel Festival's prize pool exceeded 200 million riyals ($53.3 million).
• In January 2023, a Saudi businessman signed a deal in Riyadh to purchase 12 camels for 120 million riyals ($32 million). The deal took place in the Dahna Desert, which hosts the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival.