Modern Al-Ula can be trace to the rule of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud i.e. 85 years ago when life started to take another shape, especially after Saudi Arabia had entered the oil era. Al-Ula witnessed rapid developments where the governmental authorities required for the modern civil city, all educational stages schools for boys and girls and municipality were established. After the formation of the Real Estate Fund, people started to benefit from its services and the reconstruction and development pace was so fast that all people started to leave the old town to new houses, the last family who leaved was in 1983. Thus, the old city became total vacant and the markets and shops moved to the new districts. In 1985, Friday prayers transferred from the major mosque of the old city to Al-Sakhrah district in the south and another in the north to declare officially the death of the old city or the Deera that lost is significance except for the remnants of the past. Efforts still exerted from the interested parties to maintain the heritage of the ancient city to revive it, to set up programs for the rehabilitation of the buildings and roads and to return some activities and events to the town.

Al-Ula considered as one of the Saudi Arabian cities, which the Higher Tourism Commission plans to make a destination for those who love heritage, history and monuments. His Royal Highness Prince Sultan ibn Salman ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud rapidly visited Al-Ula, which reflects his personal interest in it, Madain Saleh and other attraction in the governorate. His Royal Highness the young Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Majid ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud (Prince of Madinah Region) continues the development in the region. In Al-Ula, there are all basic foundations of tourism such as modern infrastructure, means of transportation, advanced telecommunications facilities in addition to two hotels, Arac and Madain Saleh and a third one under construction. Al-Ula also includes various levels of furnished apartments.

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