The desert destination has long attracted art lovers, combining its ancient heritage, including the UNESCO-listed Hegra, with a growing contemporary program shaped by Desert X AlUla, the annual AlUla Arts Festival and the upcoming AlUla Contemporary Art Museum.
Over time, it has brought Saudi, Arab and international artists into dialogue with the landscape. Now, it is focusing on jewellery, with the announcement of a partnership with L’ÉCOLE, School of Jewelry Arts, supported by Van Cleef & Arpels.
Bringing specialist expertise into a local context, the collaboration introduces a programme of workshops, courses and hands-on training across Madrasat Addeera and the AlJadidah Arts District.
Open to visitors, it offers a closer look at process, making and heritage, covering jewellery craftsmanship, art history and gemology. Alongside teaching, there are plans for research, new publications exploring AlUla’s craft heritage, as well as future exhibitions and artistic residencies.
Rather than focusing on luxury, the emphasis is on craft, material and knowledge, treating jewellery as a discipline shaped by technique, history and cultural identity. In a place like AlUla, where heritage and landscape are closely intertwined, it feels like a natural fit.
For jewellery lovers, emerging designers and those curious about craft, this means more than exhibitions. The programme offers the chance to engage with how objects are made and understood, moving beyond display to something more hands-on. At the same time, it supports the development of local talent, refining skills and building a more sustainable ecosystem around craft.
Art in the Middle top tip: Time your visit with one of AlUla’s seasonal festivals, from the Wellness Festival in October to AlUla Skies Festival in November.
Visit: experiencealula
Tamara is a Dubai-based freelance writer specialising in food, travel, culture and lifestyle stories from the Middle East and beyond.
