AlUla's Elephant Rock Under a Full Moon, an Arab Farm and the Night Taxi to Madinah (100 Riyal)
Saudia from Riyadh to AlUla, free entry at Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) under the full moon, real Ajwa dates on an Arab farm, an hour hunting for a taxi and a 100-riyal ride to Madinah to surprise my parents.
By Hafiz Tayyab · 27 October 2026 · 2 min read
The route
- RiyadhtoAlUlaSaudia
- AlUlatoElephant Rock
- AlUlatoMadinahNight taxi · 100 SAR
Jabal AlFil
A rock that looks exactly like an elephant.
Full moon
The 14th-night moon over the desert.
Real Ajwa
How to tell genuine Ajwa from Barni, Mabroom and Sukari.
Surprise in Madinah
Dressed as an Arab to surprise my parents.
From Diriyah I flew Saudia from Riyadh to AlUla, a desert of giant sandstone rocks in the north-west of Saudi Arabia.
Plan B: Elephant Rock
We had planned to see Mada'in Salih (Hegra), but it didn't work out that day. So we went to Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil) instead, and I'm glad we did.
- Entry was free.
- The rock looks exactly like an elephant, trunk and all.
- Tourists from China, Europe and Austria were there; it's a proper tourist setup with seating in the sand.
- We stayed for sunset and the 14th-night full moon. I also did an "Instagram vs reality" check.
An Arab farm and real Ajwa
We visited a traditional Arab farm: ducks, rabbits, camels and goats, and rows of date palms. The host showed us Barni, Mabroom, Sukari and, most special, Ajwa, and how to recognise real Ajwa. He also talked about what these farms cost to rent.
There I met Fareed bhai from Waziristan, who has worked on the farm for 15 years. What he said about his kind Arab kafeel will stay with me.
An hour to find a taxi
At night I walked through AlUla Old Town to Masjid Umar bin Khattab and started looking for a ride to Madinah. It took an hour. The driver asked 120 riyal; we settled on 100.
The surprise in Madinah
Why the rush? My parents were in Madinah for Umrah, and they didn't know I was coming. I dressed in an Arab kandura so they wouldn't recognise me, presented salam at Roza-e-Rasool (S.A.W), and then searched the crowd outside Masjid-e-Nabawi until I found them. It's one of the most emotional moments of my life, and it's on the main channel.
Tips for AlUla
- Book Hegra in advance. Plans can fall through.
- Go to Elephant Rock at sunset and stay after dark.
- Arrange transport out early. Taxis are scarce at night.
- Bargain politely. 120 became 100.
From Madinah I went on to Makkah, and flew home on Gulf Air via Bahrain. Every flight of the trip is in every flight I've taken.
Watch the episodes
Kudrat Ka Ajooba 🐘 Elephant Rock AlUla | Saudi Arabia Vlog
9 Mar 2026
Inside an Arab Farm 🌴 Asli Ajwa Khajoor Ki Pehchan | Hafiz Tayyab Vlogs
9 Mar 2026
15 Years in Saudi Arabia: Pakistani Worker & Kind Arab Kafeel ❤️ | Hafiz Tayyab Vlogs
8 Mar 2026
Al Ula to Madina Journey 🇸🇦 | Late Night Taxi Struggle! | Hafiz Tayyab Vlogs
10 Mar 2026
I Surprised My Parents in Madinah 🥺❤️ | Emotional Reaction | Travel with Tayab
9 Mar 2026Questions people ask
Is Elephant Rock in AlUla free?
Yes, entry was free when Hafiz Tayyab visited.
How much is a taxi from AlUla to Madinah?
He was asked 120 riyal and agreed on 100 riyal, at night, after about an hour of searching.
How do you get to AlUla?
He flew Saudia from Riyadh to AlUla.
How do you recognise real Ajwa dates?
On the farm he visited, the host showed Ajwa next to Barni, Mabroom and Sukari dates and explained the differences; it's in the farm video.
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