About
Since 2021, UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) have embarked on a pioneering strategic partnership aimed at deepening the understanding and appreciation of AlUla’s rich history and cultural heritage. This collaboration stands as a powerful model for heritage conservation and sustainable development on the global stage.
Over the course of five years, the partnership will focus on key strategic objectives: safeguarding and promoting AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that planning, management, and development are conducted sustainably, and aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Additionally, the partnership is dedicated to fostering the exchange of expertise, enhancing skills, and advancing heritage conservation efforts both within Saudi Arabia and internationally.
The initiative features extensively designed programmes that champion gender equality, youth empowerment, and the active involvement of local communities in the protection and celebration of their heritage. As a result, AlUla is evolving as an international hub for innovative ideas, research opportunities, and community-driven heritage conservation. This approach not only enhances the quality of life for local communities but also creates inspiring opportunities for global cultural engagement and collaboration.
About the Royal Commission for AlUla
The was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in northwest Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.