Royal Commission for AlUla reveals its master-plan for sustainable, responsible, long-term development
Saudi Arabia’s 2030 Vision to establish AlUla as the world’s largest living museum and a major heritage, cultural, arts and adventure tourism destination was recently unveiled at the recently concluded 10th UN World Urban Forum in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Visitors experienced AlUla and its masterplans through a series of interactive displays designed to transport them to North-West Saudi Arabia, which contains Hegra, the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and more than 7,000 years of archaeological remains from successive civilisations.
“We chose the World Urban Forum as a credible global platform to engage with the world’s leading developers and sustainability experts and share our plans for the long-term, responsible development of AlUla as world’s largest living museum,” said Amr AlMadani, CEO, Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).
“We have launched a new airport with potential to become a transport and logistics hub for North-West Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Francesca Arici, the RCU’s Acting Chief County Zoning and Planning Officer, is responsible for coordinating development of the masterplans and briefed multiple organisations and agencies at the Forum on the Commission’s future strategy.
Around 80 per cent of AlUla County will be protected, including cultural and natural heritage sites, where the RCU will work hand in hand with the local community to ensure the sensitive protection preservation and development.
Located 1,100km from Riyadh in north-west Saudi Arabia, AlUla is a place of extraordinary natural and human heritage. The vast area, covering over 22,500km², includes a lush oasis valley, towering sandstone mountains and ancient cultural heritage sites dating back thousands of years to when the Lihyan and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
