The incredible 5000-mile race through the desert that starts in city you've never heard of
The city of AlUla marks the starting point of one of the toughest motorsport events in the world which sees nearly 1,000 competitors travel 5,000 miles to the finish.
While the beginning of the Formula 1 season is just a few months away, there is still plenty for motorsport fans to get their teeth stuck into.
Between now and lights out in Bahrain, there are the likes of Daytona 24 Hours, the start of the Formula E season, and the Dakar rally, the greatest race you’ve never heard of.
The Dakar sees 778 competitors travel 5,000 miles across sand and desert around Saudi Arabia. The event first ran in 1973 when competitors raced to the African city of Dakar, but political reasons forced it to move first to South America and then to Saudi Arabia.
This year, the race remains in the region and starts in one of the best cities you’ve never heard of.
AlUla is a small oasis city in the Medina Province of the country and first became home to residents around 5000BC.
Despite this, it wasn’t until the sixth century that the walled city was founded and from here the area blossomed into a thriving location.
According to AlUla’s website, the city was a “vital crossroads along the famous incense-trading routes running from southern Arabia, north into Egypt, and beyond”.
They added: “With oases dotting the area, it offered a much-needed respite for weary travellers, becoming a popular place to rest, commune and recharge.”
The site explained: “AlUla was also capital of the ancient kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which controlled the caravan trade.
“Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the principal southern city of the Nabataean kingdom, famed for its spectacular monumental tombs.
“Today, Old Town AlUla is an abandoned labyrinth of streets tightly packed to create a defensive wall, and seemingly built over an ancient settlement.”
There are plenty of things to see in do around AlUla including Hegra, Jabal AlFil (also known as the Elephant Rock), the Old Town, and witnessing the start of the Dakar.
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According to visitors on TripAdvisor, the Elephant Rock is a key site to take in. Visitor JRB55 said it is “one of many must-visit places in the area”.
They said: “It is worth just chilling in the seating area and watching the light change on the rocks. Free to enter with good toilets and all the facilities you could want. It is best at sunset [sic].
Hariharan Ponnusamy added: ”Alula KSA is one the best tourist places and there many places to see and Elephant rock is one too. It's 30 minutes to reach from the city.
“A better time to visit is between 5 and 7 so we can see the day view and night view. Very comfortable area for sitting and the best place to watch the sunset. Free parking is available. Very clean area. [sic]”