Hegra AlUla, Saudi Arabia
Opened
2024
Price
$$$$
Rated for
Design Heritage LocalOutside the door
The house
GHM HotelsDesert railway sanctum
A sculptural canopy traces historic desert rail lines, linking preserved Ottoman stone pavilions within the quiet archaeological expanse of Hegra.
What it’s good at
Remarkable
A 700-meter sculptural steel canopy traces historic rail tracks alongside bespoke Poltrona Frau leather and desert stone interiors.
Remarkable
Restored 1907 Ottoman railway station buildings and historic mud-brick structures directly inside the UNESCO-listed Hegra archaeological boundary.
Remarkable
Ancient Nabataean tombs surround converted heritage dwellings featuring daily Saudi coffee roasting rituals and an in-house Rawi storyteller.
What they say
One Michelin Key
Michelin
Also in Wallpaper*.
Built into the ruins of a 1907 railway station, The Chedi Hegra is the only hotel within Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tucked away
A place apart: the property is the destination.
Monumental Nabataean rock tombs carved into towering sandstone cliffs sit directly across the surrounding desert terrain.
The rooms
Converted heritage dwellings feature arched stone thresholds and private desert-facing terraces, with plunge pools in select villas.
The pool
Bring a swimsuit.
Loungers sit beneath shade sails by the outdoor pool, looking directly out across the desert sands.
The spa
A domed marble hammam sits inside the mud-brick spa, where treatments use local dates and moringa.
Restaurant
Prima Classe
Tables sit beneath exposed timber trusses in the 1907 station hall, arranged around a restored 1906 steam locomotive.
Unfolding over 35 rooms, which were originally old houses, a restaurant inspired by the glamour of golden age train journeys, and a spa, the hotel slots seamlessly into the sweeping desert landscape.
At the table
Guests gather for coffee roasting rituals at the Saudi Coffee House and dine from sunken booths surrounded by water.
How it began
The retreat occupies the 1907 Ottoman railway depot that famously reduced the grueling desert pilgrimage route to Mecca from forty days to four.
Good to know
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The Chedi Hegra
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AlUla
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Our shorthand
How we rate hotels.
The medals
Gold
Extremely rare. Sets the global standard.
Silver
Brilliant execution. And we’re picky.
Bronze
They did this well. You’ll notice.
Listed
A defining trait. Makes the hotel what it is.
The eight vibes
Design
Built around a vision. Even the door handles have a designer.
Luxe
Cared for at every turn. The bath is drawn before you ask.
Local
It could only be here. You wake up knowing where you are.
Social
Where the city goes out. The bar is full and the night is young.
Heritage
A building with a story. Once a palace, a monastery, a station.
Wellness
You leave feeling new. Rest, sweat, soak and sleep like a stone.
Classic
The city grew up with it. Same rituals, same regulars, same bar.
Resort
A world of its own. Something to do from breakfast to nightcap.
The scene
Lively
Where things happen: restaurants, shops, people.
Central
Well-located: walkable to some things, a short ride to more.
Quiet
Away from the crowds. Getting around takes intention.
Secluded
A place apart: the property is the destination.