AlUla
Saudi government commission established in July 2017 to protect and develop the AlUla region in north-west Saudi Arabia, combining heritage conservation, sustainable tourism and community development.
Industry: Heritage, tourism and regional development | Location: Saudi Arabia | Founded: 2017
About AlUla
AlUla is a region of north-west Saudi Arabia covering 22,561 square kilometres, and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is the Saudi government body responsible for its guardianship and development. RCU describes its work as combining heritage preservation with sustainable tourism and community development, spanning archaeology, tourism, culture, education and the arts, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
RCU was established in July 2017, and its regulation was issued by Royal Order A/38 dated 29/1/1442 AH. Its website lists Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as chairman of the board and Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Culture, as governor. Abeer Al Akel is chief executive. She joined RCU in 2017 as head of strategic delivery, became acting chief executive in January 2024, and was named chief executive by the board in March 2025, People Matters reported. The board has six committees, covering executive matters, nomination and remuneration, audit, regulations, risk management, and cultural and natural heritage conservation.
RCU's website lists the Journey Through Time Masterplan, Path to Prosperity, the Sharaan Nature Reserve, Khaybar Heritage Village and the Arabian Leopard Programme among its initiatives. It has also lifted its suspension on land sales and real estate transactions in selected areas of central and southern AlUla. The visitor site experiencealula.com promotes Hegra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as Dadan, Jabal Ikmah, AlUla Old Town and Elephant Rock, and lists accommodation, tours and events such as the AlUla Skies Festival 2026.
In November 2021 RCU signed a five-year strategic partnership with UNESCO at its Paris headquarters, covering 10 programs on heritage conservation, education and capacity building, and nature and creative arts. Hegra became Saudi Arabia's first World Heritage Site in 2008, according to the same report. In September 2024 RCU agreed a partnership with the UK National Archives on training and scientific exchange, archival research, public programming and digitization. RCU's website also names the World Bank, IUCN, KAUST and the World Economic Forum among its partners.