In a canyon in AlUla, a library with no roof, no shelves, and no librarian has stood open for over two thousand years.

Stargazing in the heart of the Gharameel Desert, I find myself connected to a distant past, shaped by generations of travellers whose imaginative tales remain scattered across the sands.

Somewhere in the desert of northwestern Saudi Arabia lies AlUla, a place where two thousand years of secrets are kept, and the stones do the storytelling.

Step into AlUla’s Old Town, where its winding alleys and sunbaked walls still hum with the footsteps of caravan traders, pilgrims, and settlers who once crossed path at this desert oasis.