Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla is responsible for putting forth developmental plans to preserve the heritage and legacy of AlUla Governorate in Medina within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Its responsibilities include issuing regulations and laws to improve the services provided for citizens, residents and tourists.

Established in 2017, the Royal Commission for AlUla is one of four royal commissions in the Kingdom and the second royal commission established forty-three years after the foundation of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu in 1975. Its scope of work focuses on preserving the history of AlUla, and pays special attention to tourism as well.

The commission enjoys administrative and budgeting independence. Its headquarters is located in the capital, Riyadh. It is administered by a board of directors chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. A governor is appointed by a Royal Decree with the rank of minister and CEO.

The Royal Commission for AlUla offers a number of initiatives. In 2018, it launched its first annual international festival, Winter at Tantora.

In 2019, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched the Shara'an Nature Reserve project in the canyon area of Shara'an, as part of a series of key strategic projects organized by the commission. This initiative included the establishment of the largest global fund for the protection of the Arabian leopard entitled the Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard. Moreover, the commission joined the Global Alliance for Wild Cats. The Shara'an area was selected because it includes a variety of desert habitats that were once home to countless species of local flora and fauna.

The commission's initiatives involve Shara'an Resort, located in the heart of a valley inside the Shara'an Nature Reserve. The resort was designed by the famous French architect Jean Nouvel. It contains forty units, including twenty-five suites, ten luxury tented pavilions and five villas, in addition to forty detached residential estates.

In 2020, the Royal Commission for AlUla launched AlUla Design Studio in collaboration with the French Agency for AlUla development and a team of urban planning experts to provide new development opportunities for the community as part of major urban development plans, and provide free consultation services for AlUla residents.

The Royal Commission for AlUla administers several initiatives, such as Name a Rock, which is a competition aimed at exploring the fascinating rock formations unique to AlUla Governorate. Another initiative is the archeological survey program, which attracts elite local and international archeological experts to introduce visitors to the historical wealth of the governorate.

The commission also launched the Arabian Leopard Fund to preserve and protect the Arabian leopard from extinction, and increase its numbers in nature where it naturally spreads. The fund also supports national and international efforts, and urges communities to preserve the Arabian leopard and the ecosystems on which it depends, as it is the most endangered animal in the Arabian Peninsula, in line with the Kingdom's vision towards achieving environmental sustainability.

The Royal Commission for AlUla launched the Journey Through Time Masterplan, which is the largest initiative to sustainably revive and rehabilitate natural and cultural oases in the world. It includes the development of five centers by 2035, extending from the Old City Oasis in the south to the archaeological city of Hegra in the north. It is home to 10 million m of green and public spaces, and the eco-friendly valley train covering 46 km.

Each center offers visitor-centric accommodation experiences that reflect the cultural and natural identity of the local environment. The centers will include a variety of cultural facilities, and will allow visitors to marvel at AlUla's natural and cultural environment, making it the largest living museum in the world.

In 2022, the Royal Commission for AlUla was accorded government membership status by the International Union for Conservation of Nature for its major commitment to protect the natural environment in AlUla Governorate. Its efforts include supporting and enabling reserves, and managing the natural heritage through the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, in addition to supporting the implementation of wild nature restoration and management. This membership allows the commission to benefit from the expertise and information provided by eighteen thousand specialists in the union. Moreover, members will leverage the union's experiences in environmental regeneration projects during quadrennial meetings.