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UncategorizedIn Partnership with the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission
Writing Retreats: A Creative Journey to AlUla
Over seven days, fifteen Saudi and Arab writers lived one of the most immersive literary experiences of their careers, a retreat that combined creative isolation, professional literary mentorship, and deep cultural engagement with AlUla’s ancient landscape. Held at Pangaea’s adventure center on the edge of the Sharaan Nature Reserve, in partnership with the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission, the program was designed around a single idea: give writers the space, structure, and support to fully commit to their literary projects.
Chapter One: Arrival and Settling In
The retreat opened with writers arriving at AlUla International Airport and transferring directly to Pangaea’s center for adventurers, nestled among palm groves at the foot of Sharaan’s red sandstone cliffs. After check-in and a welcome dinner, the group came together for an orientation session introducing the retreat’s goals, house rules, and daily rhythm. The first night closed under open sky, with a stargazing session and a campfire gathering meant to quiet the mind and set the tone for the days of writing ahead.
Chapter Two: The First Creative Isolation
Day two marked the beginning of real writing time. Mornings opened with quiet, individual writing sessions and scheduled periods of silence, giving each writer uninterrupted space to work. In the evening, the group gathered for a literary discussion circle guided by a dedicated literary mentor, a chance to exchange ideas, questions, and early drafts before returning, once again, to the page.
Chapter Three: Literary Mentorship and Development
The third day shifted focus to craft. Writers met individually with the literary mentor for short, focused sessions tailored to their specific projects, followed by specialized workshops built around literary genre, character, structure, language, and narrative world. As the sun went down, the group gathered again for readings around the fire, sharing selected passages aloud under the desert sky.
Chapter Four: A Cultural Experience in AlUla
On day four, the retreat stepped outside the writing room. Writers took part in a briefing on AlUla’s cultural and historical background, followed by an exploratory tour of the center and a place-inspired creative writing workshop. The group then visited Hegra, AlUla’s ancient rock-cut city, before closing the day with a discussion on how the cultural experience had shifted their thinking, and their writing.
Chapter Five: Deep Isolation
With the halfway point behind them, writers entered a day of deep isolation, group activities were scaled back, silence periods extended, and each writer given space to focus intensively on their manuscript, with individual support available whenever needed.
Chapter Six: Sharing and Coming Together
The sixth day brought writers back together. Final writing sessions gave way to optional readings, where participants could share excerpts of their work and exchange feedback with peers. The day closed with a farewell dinner, an evaluation session, and the exchange of keepsakes to mark the close of the retreat.
Chapter Seven: Closing and Departure
On the final morning, the group gathered one last time before departing AlUla, carrying with them finished pages, new relationships, and a shared experience that few writing programs manage to offer.
We extend our sincere thanks to the Literature, Publishing & Translation Commission for their trust and partnership in bringing this program to life, and to every writer who brought focus, honesty, and imagination to these seven days.
It was more than a retreat, it was a model for what happens when creative isolation, expert mentorship, and Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape come together in service of the written word.
