The Royal Commission for AlUla Launches Its Second Winter at Tantora Festival of Culture, Heritage and Celebration in Saudi Arabia
20.12.2019 00:21:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
The second Winter at Tantora Festival in AlUla in North West Saudi Arabia starts today – a three-month celebration that will showcase the very best in international music, art and culture connecting East and West as the AlUla county has done for thousands of years.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191219005781/en/
Winter at Tantora: Experience AlUla (Photo : AETOSWire)
It comes just months after Saudi Arabia introduced tourist visas to citizens from 49 countries making the Kingdom more accessible than ever with the UNESCO World Heritage site at Hegra in AlUla among those featured in a global marketing campaign.
The festival is part of the Cultural Manifesto that was launched by the festival organisers, the Royal Commission for AlUla, in Paris in October as part of a long-term strategy to transform the region and open the region as a global living museum and place of culture, heritage and the arts.
Winter at Tantora will cover 12 weekends from 19th December and host a wide range of events from the world-famous Dakar Rally; international ballooning festival; the world’s second longest endurance horse race; the world’s first desert polo tournament and welcome pop-up restaurants from globally renowned restaurants.
The spectacular mirrored wall Maraya Theatre with its 500-seat capacity and operatic sound quality will be home throughout the festival to some of the world’s leading performers who range from Omar Khairat to Andrea Bocelli.
Festival visitors will also be able to meet and engage with young members of the AlUla community who are benefitting from a diverse range of training programmes in hospitality; culture; nature and the environment and studying overseas including 24 men and women at the FERRANDI Paris culinary institute in Paris.
These young chefs will work alongside Michelin-starred experts during the festival creating world-class cuisine that will incorporate local ingredients from the fertile AlUla valley and blending traditional recipes with modern cuisine.
RCU CEO Amr AlMadani says: “Festival visitors will be given a unique opportunity to visit and experience one of the world’s undiscovered places and its spectacular heritage sites before we reopen them to the world in October 2020.
“They will get a tantalising glimpse of a place that been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years and the chance to see it from the serenity of a hot air balloon; the adrenaline of soaring over the desert and mountains in an open seater biplane or exploring hidden canyons in traditional vintage Land Rovers.”
The Royal Commission for AlUla has also completed major infrastructure work at AlUla airport – increasing capacity fourfold to 400,000 visitors a year and upgrading local mountain resorts to enhance the visitor experience.
AlUla will be a worldwide destination for those seeking a unique experience of the full meaning and context of landscape – an experience that integrates the natural and cultural heritage as one living environment. By safeguarding our precious landscapes and cultural heritage this open-air museum will be the Kingdom’s gift to the world creating remarkable and lasting memories.
‘Authentic AlUla’, the opening weekend, is a celebration rooted in AlUla, to mark the start of the winter planting season at the iconic Tantora sundial from which the festival is named. It is the first of 12 specially themed weekends.
Notes to editors
To find out more about the Winter at Tantora festival and details of packages and the entertainment and cultural programmes, log on to www.experiencealula.com
To find out more about how the Royal Commission for AlUla is working with the community to develop a world-class tourism destination, log on to www.rcu.gov.sa
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191219005781/en/
Contact information
RCU Public Relations team
The head of PR at RCU
Antony Newton
PublicRelations@rcu.gov.sa
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
FPT, Airbus’ Skywise, and Vietnam Airlines Partner to Advance AI-Powered Airline Operations4.11.2026 06:21:00 EET | Press release
FPT, Vietnam Airlines and Skywise, Airbus' digital services company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the development of AI-powered services. By combining Vietnam Airlines’ operational expertise and data, insights from the Skywise platform, and FPT’s capabilities in aviation technology, systems integration and AI engineering, the collaboration will identify practical AI use cases that could enhance performance, strengthen resilience and support better-informed decision-making. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103646801/en/ The MOU was announced at the Vietnam Aerospace Forum (VAF) in Hanoi on 4 November 2026. The programme will initially focus on fleet reliability, technical operations and disruption management. By combining Skywise’s insights with maintenance planning, parts readiness and flight schedules, the parties will explore AI applications to improve aircraft availability an
IFF Reports Third Quarter 2026 Results3.11.2026 23:30:00 EET | Press release
IFF (NYSE: IFF) reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026. Results are presented on a continuing operations basis, excluding the Food Ingredients business and other minor perimeter adjustments (the “Food Ingredients disposal group”), and the Soy Crush, Concentrates, and Lecithin businesses (the “SCL disposal group”). The Food Ingredients disposal group and the SCL disposal group are reported as discontinued operations. Management Commentary “IFF delivered a solid third quarter, with improved sales and profitability across all divisions,” said Erik Fyrwald, CEO of IFF. “Taste and Scent delivered strong top- and bottom-line results, and Health & Biosciences improved modestly as we continue to strengthen the business. We also generated strong cash flow through the first nine months of 2026 and recently completed our $500 million accelerated share repurchase program. The separation of Food Ingredients is progressing well, and we are on track with our timelin
2026–2027 World Branding Awards Honours Global “ Brand of the Year ” Winners at Hampton Court Palace3.11.2026 22:00:00 EET | Press release
The World Branding Awards returned to honour the brands that continue to set the benchmark for excellence. The 2026–2027 World Branding Awards Ceremony took place at the iconic Hampton Court Palace, marking the 21st edition of the awards. Set within the grandeur of a historic venue, the prestigious event brought together guests from across the globe for a memorable celebration. The evening was hosted by the acclaimed BBC presenter, Hannah Gray, and was further enriched by a keynote presentation from renowned speaker Adrian Webster. Earning a World Branding Awards remains a highly distinguished achievement. Winners are determined through a rigorous evaluation process encompassing brand valuation, consumer market research, and public online voting. This year, over 105,000 consumers took part in the voting process, and more than 2,000 brands from 62 countries were nominated. Of these, less than 10 brands from each country were declared the “Brand of the Year” across the Global, Regional,
Gencom Acquires Rosewood London, Expanding Its Footprint With Its First Luxury Hotel Acquisition in Europe3.11.2026 20:05:00 EET | Press release
Gencom, a U.S.-based investment firm that owns and develops prized real estate around the world, announces the acquisition of Rosewood London, the landmark 308-key luxury hotel situated at 252 High Holborn in Central London. The acquisition strengthens Gencom’s global hospitality investment platform and expands its presence in Europe through its first luxury hotel asset in London. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103137897/en/ Gencom, a U.S.-based investment firm that owns and develops prized real estate around the world, announces the acquisition of Rosewood London in Central London London is one of the world’s most supply-constrained hospitality markets, supported by year-round demand from both leisure and business travelers. The acquisition of Rosewood London reflects Gencom’s conviction in the market and serves as a strategic entry point into Europe. The transaction further enhances the firm’s assemblage
SGCA Honours Communication Excellence Across Asia, Europe and the Arab World3.11.2026 17:52:00 EET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Sharjah Media Council, honoured winners of the 13th Sharjah Government Communication Award (SGCA), organised by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261103972039/en/ SGCA honours communication excellence across Asia, Europe and the Arab world (Photo: AETOSWire) Winners represented China, India, Thailand, Ukraine and the Arab world. Some 433 entries from 31 countries across four continents passed initial screening. The award covered 23 categories across five sectors, including six partner awards. His Excellency Tariq Saeed Allay, Director General of SGMB, highlighted the award’s growth under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, noting that it had attracted more than 9,500 entries over five year
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom