Why Was the Old Town of al-Ula Selected as One of the Best Tourist Villages in the World?

The Old Town of al-Ula was selected among the list of the best tourist villages in the world by the World Tourism Organization in 2022, alongside thirty-two other villages from around the world, due to the Old Town meeting the selection criteria requirements.

The villages on the list of the best tourist villages in the world, part of the main project within the organization's program for tourism for rural development, were evaluated by an independent advisory board based on criteria covering nine areas: cultural and natural resources, promotion and preservation of cultural resources, economic sustainability, social sustainability, environmental sustainability, tourism development and value chain integration, tourism management and prioritization, infrastructure and connectivity, and health, safety, and security.

The list of the best tourist villages in the world aims to highlight rural destinations that adopt tourism as a driver for development, business opportunities, and new sources of income while preserving and promoting community values and products. The list recognizes villages for their commitment to innovation and sustainability in all aspects—economic, social, and environmental—as well as their focus on developing the tourism sector in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.