Meet Capt. Afrah Al-Harbi, a 22-year-old resident of AlUla who has flown hot-air balloons 55 times in Saudi Arabia since becoming the country’s first female hot-air balloon pilot.
Al-Harbi received training from the Saudi Arabian Hot-Air Ballooning Federation while attending Taibah University in AlUla to study hotels and tourism.
A few months after the triumph of the first Hot-Air Balloon Festival during the Winter at Tantora Festival earlier that year, where 100 balloons lit up the skies on several nights, the federation formally established its offices in AlUla in May 2019. A road map for adventure tourism in Saudi Arabia was unveiled at the festival.
The narrative of Al-Harbi begins here
Al-Harbi recently said to Arab News, “I saw the balloons when hot-air ballooning started in AlUla, but I never dreamed I would be able to fly one of them.
When the chance to study presented itself, Al-Harbi thought to herself, “Why not me?” She got admitted to the training program after an initial interview.
One of eight kids, Al-Harbi said her family has been encouraging as she strives to make history by becoming the first Saudi woman to be licensed as a pilot.
“I have no fear inside of me,” she continued.
Having completed more than 55 flights to date, Al-Harbi added that although ballooning is now a hobby, she would not mind turning it into a full-time career.
Among the first licensed Saudi hot-air balloon pilots are fellow captains Abdulrahman Al-Wohaibi and Hussain Makkawi, who trained at the federation with Al-Harbi.
One of the Saudi pilots assigned to transport visitors to the AlUla Skies Festival is Al-Harbi. This event, which takes place every year, features outdoor activities and attractions close to the iconic Hegra monument, including hot-air balloon flights, chopper tours, and more.
“There is no better way to experience, enjoy, and appreciate AlUla’s majestic landscape and natural beauty than from the air,” she proclaimed.
