AlUla’s rich history and prosperity owes much, if not all, to the Oasis. This lush lifeline provided ancient settlers with shade, water, food, materials to build shelter, and a source of income. Today, the Oasis remains a centrepiece of any trip to AlUla and offers a range of experiences that help visitors to understand its role in the county’s growth over the centuries.

A walking tour is a good place to start and the Oasis has two options. To hear stories of how the Oasis helped AlUla to thrive, sign up for a guided 90-minute walking tour with a local guide. The Oasis Heritage Trail Tour is a gentle 3km stroll through the greenery beginning with dates, dried fruits and coffee. See restored farmlands, mudbrick buildings, city walls and fruit trees on a gentle walk under mature palm trees and leafy banana trees. Alternatively, if you wish to explore the clearly signposted 6km of public trails on your own, feel free to wander the paths day or night and enjoy being close to nature.

The Oasis provides a plentiful harvest of dates, fruit, and herbs for the kitchens of local eateries and eating out here is a memorable way to connect to the natural environment. Fresh mint, for instance, is picked and brewed to make reviving tea at the tranquil Oasis Tea Cafe nearby.

Also adopting an oasis-to-table approach are the chefs at Tawlat Fayza, a homely restaurant in a restored mudbrick building with tables on the rooftop that enable diners to gaze out over the Oasis. Similarly embedded in the surrounding green space is Heart of the Oasis. This restaurant with a theatrical open kitchen feeds the mind as well as the body with its hearty dishes using ingredients grown in the Oasis. Elsewhere, Tama also takes full advantage of the stunning variety of produce available on its doorstep.