Nasim Hegra
The Chedi Hegra, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, 2026
Set within Hegra Fort, an eighteenth century stone building in Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Nasim introduces a contemporary dining experience into a place shaped by history, water and landscape. Today, the restaurant offers contemporary Levantine cuisine within the preserved walls and arches of the fort. Experience AlUla
The history of the building is closely connected to the presence and protection of water in the desert. This relationship informed the transformation of the site and became part of the wider architectural narrative developed for The Chedi Hegra.
From Nasim, the view extends towards Sky View Restaurant, establishing a visual connection between the two dining destinations. The historic fort and the reflective basin appear together across the landscape, connecting two different expressions of hospitality within the same story.
Sky View emerges from the former water infrastructure as a contemporary intervention defined by sunken seating, reflective surfaces and open views across Hegra. Seen from the fort, its presence reveals the relationship between architecture, water and protection that has shaped this place over time.
Inside Nasim, the existing stone walls, arches and proportions guide the spatial experience. The intervention preserves the material character of the building while introducing an intimate atmosphere for dining, gathering and conversation.
The restaurant extends across interior rooms, terraces and rooftop spaces, allowing the experience to evolve throughout the day. At the heart of Nasim, a suspended cloud of lanterns defines the centre of the space. Natural light reveals the texture of the historic architecture, while the evening atmosphere is shaped by softer illumination, views of the surrounding sandstone formations and the open sky.
Nasim means “gentle breeze”, a name that reflects the open relationship between the restaurant and its desert setting. Architecture, landscape and contemporary Levantine hospitality come together within a place where the memory of water remains visible.
Through Nasim and Sky View, the historic fort becomes a point of connection across the site, linking the preservation of Hegra’s heritage with a new way of experiencing its landscape.
