First Saudi 7-star hotel opens
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and General Hotel Management (GHM) have announced the opening of The Chedi Hegra, which is said to mark a new chapter in the development of AlUla as a world-class tourist destination.
According to RCU, a key focus of the development is its commitment to sustainability. The hotel’s design aligns with RCU’s Sustainability Charter for AlUla, ensuring minimal environmental impact through a ‘light-touch’ tourism approach, and also emphasising the use of local materials wherever possible during development and construction.
The Chedi Hegra will feature 35 bespoke guest rooms, each designed to reflect the harmony between luxury and the surrounding natural landscape. The project integrates existing structures – such as the Hegra railway station – into its architecture, preserving the integrity of the region’s rich cultural heritage.
The main restaurant is in the eatery of the former train station, with a 1906 locomotive at the centre of the room. The train’s maintenance area has been conserved and is visible through a glass floor in the restaurant.