AlUla will celebrate the revival of the Tantora Ceremony on Monday in AlUla Old Town, one of the region’s most distinctive heritage markers and a defining element of its intangible cultural legacy.
The Tantora is a historic solar timekeeping device that generations of AlUla’s residents relied upon to mark the beginning of the agricultural season and the arrival of Al-Marba’aniyah, becoming an essential guide for daily life and seasonal farming cycles, said The Saudi Press Agency.
This year’s ceremony is part of the Royal Commission for AlUla's (RCU) ongoing efforts to elevate cultural heritage and strengthen its presence in the public realm. The program includes a rich array of cultural and heritage activities that highlight the historical significance of Tantora and its role in shaping the community's relationship with its oasis environment.
Visitors will enjoy traditional performances, artisan showcases, and interpretive sessions on the history and uses of the Tantora, alongside demonstrations that evoke aspects of AlUla’s past.
The ceremony reinforces awareness of this cultural marker as one of the region’s most notable expressions of intangible heritage. It also underscores its importance in understanding the seasonal practices that formed a central part of life in AlUla, particularly its connection to the onset of winter and the agricultural preparations associated with the peak of winter.
Reviving the Tantora Ceremony reflects RCU’s commitment to conserving heritage and reactivating it through contemporary approaches that strengthen cultural identity, foster community belonging, and connect new generations with AlUla’s historic legacy.
The event also enriches AlUla’s cultural and tourism offering by providing experiences that deepen visitor appreciation of Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage.
The RCU affirmed that celebrating this tradition demonstrates AlUla’s dedication to protecting its cultural and natural treasures and enhancing their role in sustainable development, fully aligned with AlUla’s long-term vision and the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which positions culture as a core pillar of quality of life and balanced national growth.
