How can you place architecture and art in harmony with the natural landscapes of the desert?

Panelists discussed the concept of land architecture, seen in the spectacular Maraya venue and the approaches to art and landscape exemplified by Desert X AlUla, an exhibition of large-scale contemporary art.

Featured speakers:

  • Nora AlDabal, Director Art & Creative Planning, Royal Commission for AlUla (online)
  • Florian Boje, Lead Architect, Gio forma Architects
  • Nouf AlAnkari, Design Manager, Royal Commission for AlUla
  • Sumantro Ghose, Artistic Programming Director, Royal Commission for AlUla


About AlUla

Located 1,100 km from Riyadh, in North-West Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering 22,561km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.

About The Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to protect and safeguard AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in North-West Saudi Arabia. RCU is embarking on a long-term plan to develop and deliver a sensitive, sustainable transformation of the region, reaffirming it as one of the country's most important archaeological and cultural destinations and preparing it to welcome visitors from around the world. RCU’s development work in AlUla encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, reflecting the ambitious commitment to cultivate tourism and leisure in Saudi Arabia, outlined in Vision 2030.