Swizz Beatz’s travel guide
Swizz Beatz’s travel guide to Saudi Arabia’s AlUla
This ancient city, which has long been isolated to the outside world, is suddenly disclosing its mysteries.
Here are Swizz Beatz’s recommendations for activities in one of his favorite locations, including hot air ballooning and stargazing.
The superstar, whose full name is Kasseem Daoud Dean, has performed, DJed, produced, bought art, designed apparel.
And been married to fellow artist Alicia Keys during the course of his 25-year career.
Additionally, Dean, who was born in the Bronx, became the first American to own Swizz Beatz’s travel guide a Saudi Arabian camel racing team in 2020.
Although Dean’s decision may have taken some fans by surprise, many close to him are aware of his long-standing affection for Saudi Arabia.
Which was passed down from his grandpa, who made the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in 1978.
The Grammy winner is a devout Muslim who frequently travels to the monarchy Swizz Beatz’s travel guide.
According to him, “It was nowhere near as developed as it is today,” referring to his initial visit in 2006.
“But the enthusiasm is palpable. You can sense the craft and the culture.”
Dean has traveled all across the country, but lately he has mostly visited the historic city of AlUla.
A striking oasis in a desert valley in the Hijaz region of northwest Saudi Arabia that was off-limits to tourists until recently.
It was not until 2019 that the Swizz Beatz’s travel guide Saudi government started issuing tourist visas for non-religious travel.
Allowing visitors to finally experience the splendor of AlUla’s 900-year-old Old Town and its otherworldly sandstone and granite mountain landscapes.
This was part of a $1 trillion Saudi government initiative to revamp tourism throughout the country.
Even though the city is home to the Unesco-listed Hegra, the secondary hub of the region’s ancient Nabataean civilization.
At every stage, Dean has been there.
Dean, who was among the first invited to witness the construction of the city’s enormous Maraya performance venue—a mirror-clad.
Behemoth rising out of the desert sands—and eco-friendly luxury lodging resorts like Our Habitas, says.
“My relationship with AlUla is like seeing a seed planted in the ground and watching a beautiful flower grow.”
It has been awe-inspiring to watch the vision come to life before my eyes.
Every month is different, but Dean has “lost count” of his trips.
A place that thrives on innovation, the arts, creativity, and music is truly remarkable.
Leading and DJing at AlUla on Wheels, an immersive outdoor skating rink in the AlJadidah Arts District.
And supporting his camel racing team, Saudi Bronx, at the annual AlUla Cup.
Dean has dedicated his life to enhancing AlUla’s cultural landscape alongside Keys.
He says, “[My] camel racing team is an ode to the desert.” “My music is not as well-known here as camel racing.”
Dean’s favorite ways to explore AlUla are listed below.
The Old Town is the best location to experience AlUla.
As part of its global relaunch, AlUla’s art galleries now draw artists from around the world, and its annual Wellness Festival offers a five-day immersive “sanctuary” retreat along with wellness activities guided by celebrities, such as yoga and sound baths. However, “I would travel to the Old Town out the gate,” says Dean, in order to truly experience the city. It provides you with AlUla’s history. Since the entire Old Town is being rebuilt, it is a very special place.
Originally a major city on the pilgrimage route between Damascus and Mecca in the 12th century CE, AlUla’s Old Town is a stunning maze of low-roofed mudbrick houses. In the 20th century, the site—which was surrounded by 14 gates and topped by a 45-meter-tall fortress—was mainly deserted. These days, its historic homes have been replaced by shops, galleries, and cafes.
“You can observe how they construct the mud dwellings there, both historically and in terms of how they will develop in the future. “You can see how it will develop in the future while still enjoying a Michelin-starred meal next door,” Dean explains. “They are preserving the old structures while using new materials, and you will notice a Bergdorf in one of those structures.” “It is quite modern in that way,” he continues. It is not like, “Oh no, I have to go to the store with a camel.”
Glamping in the desert is the greatest cultural experience.
Nestled in the expansive AlUla Valley, AlUla is encircled by a seemingly endless stretch of red sand that swirls, interspersed with wadis, sand dunes, and mountains of a russet hue. Its skies are renowned for being completely dark at night.
“It feels like you can touch the stars from your porch when you step outside at night,” Dean explains. “The size of the boulders and the mild firmness all around you make it nearly feel like you are on Mars.”
According to Dean, “the complete desert experience”—organized by his preferred upscale resort, Our Habitas—is a fantastic way to introduce AlUla to the local culture. He states, “You are in the tent and you have the bread and the meal and the herbs and the fire’s burning, along with the Saudi coffee.” They will typically have an oud player. It is incredible. You can either book a table for dinner or sleep outside.
They perform a whole presentation, including fire dancing, dancing to Arabic music, and cooking regional cuisine.
AlUla offers wild camping in addition to desert glamping and dining experiences provided by Our Habitas and Banyan Tree AlUla. There are ten large-scale campsites, including Pangaea Adventure Club, and two free authorized camping sites. It is advised to dress in layers and to practice safe, responsible camping practices, such as keeping the campsite tidy and protecting the wildlife and desert vegetation.
Dean remarks, “I have never seen the constellations so clear as at AlUla.” “I can hear my thoughts when I am in AlUla. It is a fantastic location for rest and experiencing new things.
- Kabsa is the best food experience.
AlUla’s culinary sector is currently teeming with international restaurants, from sushi bars to hamburger establishments, as a result of the large number of new tourists that arrive there every month. However, Dean states that “among the native foods, [I highly recommend] a kabsa”—a typical Arabian meal of spiced rice and meat, usually lamb, fish, camel, or chicken. “It takes a long to cook, but every taste is worthwhile once it is done. The lamb is cooked until the meat is extremely [tender]. They combine it with the rice, and everything is served in a saucepan. You can share it with more than one person. The rice contains a variety of herbs and other ingredients. Some are more hot than others, and some have distinct mixtures. You are never going to lose if you try different kabsas.
Dean finds it difficult to choose a favorite restaurant in the city. “Any restaurant would do. Any hotel would do. “The food is ridiculous,” he remarks. “The passion of the people is evident. I adore it when an area is so distinctive that everyone takes pride in it. It is not hurried. There is love. It is the craft. The presence of the craft is what I adore most about Alula.
The AlUla Skies Festival is the best outdoor event.
AlUla has a lot to offer outdoor enthusiasts, including breathtaking mountains and unusual rock formations like Elephant Rock. However, Dean especially enjoys the AlUla Skies Festival, a wonderful 10-day autumn celebration of the city’s stunning skies that includes Dean’s favorite activity—hot air balloon rides—and astronomy.
He remarks, “That is unbelievable.” “I do not really like hot air balloons. But it was just different when I visited AlUla. I am a little afraid of heights, so they did not go too high. Ours was at a pretty great level where you could see the stunning scenery and the Old Town. It is quite unusual to see the intersection of the desert and the oasis.
Up to 60 hot air balloons, both tethered and untethered, leisurely circle the sky during the festival, admiring the expansive vistas of Hegra, the Old Town, and the boundless desert sand. In addition to chartering helicopter excursions, participants can take part in culinary workshops and meditation sessions outside for those who would prefer to remain closer to the ground.
Hegra, also called Mada’in Saleh, is the most famous of the more than 27,000 archeological sites in AlUla that date to the late prehistoric era (5200–1200 BCE). Hegra, which has been inhabited since the first century BCE and was a bustling center for trade and incense until the 12th century, is home to a 1.6-hectare complex of necropolis that has 111 enormous, decorated, and engraved tombs that were cut out of boulders and exquisitely preserved by the dry desert environment. It became Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage property when it was designated a Unesco World Heritage site in 2008.
According to Dean, “You see the structure and the condition and the masterpiece, the professional architects that built these things way, way, way, way back.” “The sight is enchanted.”
The Oasis Heritage Trail is a 3km walking tour through the AlUla Oasis shaded by palm trees. While in Hegra, visitors can choose to take an organized bus tour to the ancient city of Dadan and Jabal Ikmah, a 9th-Century BCE “open-air library” that has the largest concentration of Lihyanite and Dadanitic rock inscriptions in the world.
