Case Study

Hero Balloon Flights, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), proudly led Saudi Arabia’s first large-scale ballooning event at the AlUla Skies Festival from April to May 2023. By operating 40 breathtaking flights, we gave guests an unparalleled view of AlUla’s stunning landscapes. Our world-class team ensured safety, precision, and seamless execution.

In 2023, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) sought to elevate the AlUla Skies Festival with an extraordinary aerial experience, showcasing the region's breathtaking landscapes from above. Held from 23 April to 14 May 2023, the festival aimed to attract international visitors, celebrate AlUla's rich cultural and natural heritage, and establish it as a premier adventure tourism destination.

With a vision to enhance the festival’s offerings, RCU partnered with Hero Balloon Flights, part of Hero Experiences Group, to lead this groundbreaking activation as the first commercial balloon operator in Saudi Arabia. The festival marked the country’s first large-scale ballooning event, requiring meticulous planning to ensure world-class safety, logistics, and operations.

The partnership introduced commercial balloon flights, tethered rides, and spectacular glow shows, transforming AlUla’s skies into a mesmerising spectacle. However, executing a highly technical aviation experience in a new market presented unique challenges, including complex logistics, regulatory requirements, and operational hurdles that demanded adaptability and precision.

Our success relied on overcoming tight deadlines, unpredictable weather, and logistical complexities. Crew arrival delays, ballooning equipment shipments, and fluctuating passenger numbers added further obstacles. Additionally, Eid holidays and multi-stakeholder coordination required strategic communication and flexibility.

With careful planning and expert execution, Hero Balloon Flights delivered a seamless and spectacular event, setting a new standard for adventure tourism in Saudi Arabia while creating unforgettable experiences for guests.

Take a glimpse at the Glow Show, one of many activations we organised as part of the AlUla Skies Festival here.

Bringing the skies to life: a series of immersive ballooning experiences

  • A 45 to 60-minute sunrise hot air balloon flight over Hegra, offering guests aerial views of its canyons and rock formations.
  • A stunning display of 35 vibrant, uniquely designed balloons operated by world-class pilots transformed the skies into a mesmerising showcase.
  • A tethered helium balloon in AlUla City offered guests a stationary ascent into the skies while remaining anchored.
  • A balloon glow show illuminated the festival grounds, with 15 balloons glowing in synchronised harmony, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
  • A magical glow show, in synch with an enchanting musical sequence at Maraya, featured 40 hot air balloons encircling the iconic, mirrored concert hall, creating an illusion unlike anything guests have ever seen (video here).

Bringing the global ballooning community together:

  • Hero Experiences Group’s global network of ballooning professionals enabled us to bring in top-tier pilots, ensuring the festival’s highest safety and expertise standards.
  • We welcomed maestro balloonists from the UK, France, Lithuania, Croatia, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia, creating a truly international showcase.
  • A comprehensive logistics operation ensured the seamless transport of balloons, equipment, and crew, overcoming tight timelines and international shipping complexities.
  • We handled visa coordination and travel arrangements meticulously to facilitate smooth arrivals and departures for the international team.
  • Exclusive accommodations and hospitality services ensured a comfortable and well-organised stay, allowing the team to focus on delivering an exceptional guest experience.
  • A dedicated operations team managed daily scheduling, flight safety, and communication, ensuring flawless coordination between pilots, crew, and festival organisers.

Precision in execution: delivering a seamless event

  • A highly skilled team of over 105 professionals, including pilots, ground crew, logistics coordinators, and operational staff, ensured that every aspect of the festival ran smoothly. Hero Experiences Group provided its expert pilots and crew, bringing decades of experience in commercial ballooning to guarantee the highest safety and service standards.
  • Our on-ground team conducted extensive pre-planning and site assessments to determine optimal take-off locations, assess weather patterns, and develop contingency plans for changing conditions.
  • Daily, real-time operational adjustments were made, with the team closely monitoring wind speeds, temperature shifts, and visibility to make informed decisions that ensured passenger safety and optimal flight experiences.
  • Logistical precision was key, with seamless coordination of transport, equipment, and crew movements across multiple locations, ensuring that every activation—from commercial flights to the glow show—was executed flawlessly.

The AlUla Skies Festival 2023 was a milestone for adventure tourism in Saudi Arabia. For 21 days, 40 balloons took flight, offering 850 guests an unforgettable journey above AlUla's landscapes. This event showcased the potential for large-scale ballooning experiences in the region, setting a new benchmark for aviation excellence.

Beyond its immediate success, the festival laid the groundwork for Hero Experiences Group to introduce its aviation expertise by launching AlUla’s first commercial hot air balloon brand, Hero Balloon Flights Saudi. This achievement positioned us as pioneers in Saudi Arabia’s adventure tourism sector, paving the way for a new era of luxury aerial experiences in the Kingdom.

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