Saudi Tourism

Hail
Desert Festival
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Hail, is a city filled with generosity and
authentic hospitality, is called the home of
Hatem el Ta’ey. It is considered a leading
destination for desert tourism. The people
of Hail are very passionate about camping
in the wild, especially in winter and spring
when they spend many nights and days in the
Nafud desert, a vast expanse that that covers
an area of 40,000 kilometers and occupies
approximately one third of the region.
When you visit Hail, there are several
activities that you can enjoy, such as climbing
the Aja Mountains, hunting, riding 4x4
vehicles, sand boarding in the Nafud desert
or exploring the Aja mountain peaks that are
located west of Hail. There you will discover
a maze of rough granite peaks and domes,
water springs, marshes and fresh water,
oases of palm trees, acacia and Nubian mule
deer. You can also observe the wildlife of Hail,
take interesting photographs, go hiking and
enjoy the beautiful open spaces.
Hail is the home for a lot of poets and
writers, and it also attracted a lot of well
known European travelers during the19th
century and early 20th century. Hail is always
associated with the name of a famous symbol
of generosity and hospitality, «Hatem el Ta’ey.
This is a cultural festival that has been
held annually since 2008, that includes
international participation from some Arab
countries as guests of honor. The festival
mainly focuses on reviving the heritage and
culture of the desert through a variety of
events and activities, such as a traditional
markets for handicrafts, traditional cuisines,
Arabian poetry and folklore, special shows
for desert life, in addition to entertaining
activities and sports. The festival is held
during the spring break in Hail and other
governorates for a period of 9 days.