Preliminary characterization of the AlUla Manara astronomical site for the 4-m telescope project in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has developed a robust and sustainable framework that is aligned with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals including economic diversification, local job creation and skills development. The RCU is currently thriving to deliver an environmentally and historically conscientious transformation of AlUla, that advances the understanding of 200,000 years of its cultural heritage. The RCU is collaborating with local partners and international institutions to develop AlUla Manara to become a renowned astronomical observatory through combining Astro-Tourism offerings and a proficient astronomical observatory. In this context, efforts are currently underway to characterize the site proposed to host the astronomical observatory. In this paper, we show preliminary astro-meteorological results from the parameters database, based on a computational model using data from the ECMWF Fifth generation reanalysis (ERA5), as well as insights of the Astronomical Site Monitor deployment. The results from the site characterization campaign will be used to design, build and put in operation the future 4m-class optical telescope.