Saudi Arabia's flynas launches first direct international flights to AlUla, from Dubai

Passengers from the UAE and Kuwait will now be able to travel directly to the ancient city

Madain Saleh is one of the must-visit sites in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The ruins of the ancient Dadanian kingdom’s metropolis. Reem Mohammed / The National

A date harvest in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

Al Ula's dates farms bring greenery to the mountainous region. Reem Mohammed / The National

Tombs at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

Al Farid at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

Madain Saleh is carved into large rocky outcrops strewn throughout a sparse desert. Reem Mohammed / The National

Madain Saleh, the Unesco-listed southernmost settlement of the Nabatean kingdom, is also known as Hegra. Reem Mohammed / The National

The railway station at Madain Saleh. Reem Mohammed / The National

A date farm in Al Ula - the location is known for its fruit. Reem Mohammed / The National

Suleiman Aljuwayhal, a tour guide in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The railway station at Madain Saleh in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer works as the reception office supervisor at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

The resort is undergoing expansion to accommodate more tourists. Reem Mohammed / The National

New rooms and suites are being built. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer started working at Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula in 2018. Reem Mohammed / The National

Ghadeer inside the Shaden Desert Resort in Al Ula. Reem Mohammed / The National

When the Shaden Desert Resort is completed, it will comprise 120 rooms. Reem Mohammed / The National

The mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop at Shaden Desert Resort. Reem Mohammed / The National

The resort is still under construction and isn’t fully functional. Reem Mohammed / The National

Saudi Arabia's low-cost airline flynas is launching its first direct international flights to AlUla International Airport from the UAE and Kuwait from November 19. Domestic routes from Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah have also been added to the roster.

Three direct flights will operate weekly from Dubai to the ancient city while two weekly direct flights will take off from Kuwait City, the airline said. Additionally, there will be four flights a week from Riyadh and three weekly flights from Dammam and Jeddah.

“We are excited to make AlUla more accessible to all travellers in the region, a destination that is truly unique and never fails to impress even the most experienced travellers," flynas chief executive Bander Almohanna said.

Phillip Jones, the chief destination management and marketing officer for the Royal Commission for AlUla, called the announcement "a huge milestone".

“For millennia, AlUla has been a crossroads of civilisations. Our ancient oasis has welcomed travellers and settlers to share commodities, ideas and build communities. We will once again be on the international travellers route and we look to introducing more visitors to the monumentality of the destination.”

The first international flights on Friday, November 19, coincide with a concert by Syrian soprano Faia Younan, who will perform at the Maraya Concert Hall. The cubic mirrored building, which reflects the surrounding desert, holds the Guinness World Record for largest mirrored structure.

In April, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced an exciting new master plan set to transform AlUla into a must-visit destination for travellers across the world.

Encompassing five distinct districts interconnected by a low-carbon tramway, the Journey Through Time project offers culture, art, history, adventure and more in north-west Saudi Arabia.

Watch a video of the AlUla master plan below: