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# Doorways: the threshold of architecture in AlUla
- URL: https://www.angles.blog/doorways-the-threshold-of-architecture-in-alula/
- Published: 2026-02-07T23:59:34.000Z
- Updated: 2026-02-07T23:59:34.000Z
- Author: Colin Robertson

[AlUla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Ula?ref=angles.blog) is a very old city in Saudi Arabia. It is located near the [Nabatean](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabataeans?ref=angles.blog) necropolis of [Hegra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegra?ref=angles.blog) and was a part of the ancient incense trading route from the 3rd century BCE, and dates beyond that. [Old town, AlUla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old%5FTown,%5FAl-Ula?ref=angles.blog) was made from mud brick and was still occupied by residents until fairly recently—with parts of it peeking through all over the current city.

![Elevated view of Old Town AlUla from 2020](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_MG_9730.jpg)

A photo I took of old town AlUla in 2020

![Madaʾin Salih, aka Hegra](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_MG_9920-1.jpg)

A photo I took of Madaʾin Salih, aka Hegra, on a tour with some Desert X crew in 2020

Understanding this context helps to fully appreciate texturally rich charm of the architecture in this area. On our trip to AlUla in January of this year, I focused my camera more on the city than I had in [prior years](https://www.angles.blog/photographing-the-desert-x-2024-visitor-center-in-alula-saudi-arabia/). I photographed a series of doorways that highlight the textures created by these materials and building techniques, and in some cases, centuries of use.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1077.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1680.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1686.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1690.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1694.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1695.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1697.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1700.jpg)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/2f/f4/2ff4a39b-6b70-4185-aa10-16519b2d13ec/content/images/2026/02/_JR_1713.jpg)

I'll share more in another post, but to me, these small slices of architecture are the perfect introduction to the city of AlUla.