As the world observes “World Tourism Day,” AlUla is marking it with a major milestone, securing the Gold Award in the ICRT’s Nature Positive Responsible Tourism category.
With this world-class accolade, AlUla cements its status as a destination for luxury travel and large-scale ecological and cultural restoration. From rewilding native species across 74,000 hectares to reviving ancient oasis farming, the historic valley goes beyond sustainability, heralding a new era for regenerative tourism.
A Global Recognition
Driving the News: On World Tourism Day, marked annually on September 27, AlUla won the Gold Award in the Nature Positive Responsible Tourism category at the 2026 ICRT Responsible Tourism Awards.
The Big Picture: The award is a recognition of AlUla‘s commitment to a nature-first approach, which places environmental conservation and ecosystem restoration at the heart of tourism development.
Why It Matters: The ICRT Responsible Tourism Awards recognize organizations that adopt good practices in sustainable and responsible tourism. The judges hailed AlUla’s approach, which involved cooperation with scientists and conservationists through the IUCN, UNESCO, and others to put nature and wildlife first, prioritizing “eco-friendly infrastructure, from low-impact accommodations to carbon-conscious transportation options, thereby ensuring harmonious coexistence with nature.”
Nature at the Forefront
The Strategy: AlUla prioritizes nature conservation through a nature-first strategy, dedicating 50% of its land to ecosystem protection and launching several restoration programs.
By the Numbers:
- Over 11,200 km2: Land designated as protected nature reserves.
- 500,000: Native trees planted.
- 1,500+: Animals rewilded.
Between the Lines: AlUla enjoys an exceptional biodiversity with more than 500 species of fauna and over 2,000 species of flora thriving in the region. As part of its efforts to protect its diverse landscape, AlUla has rewilded endangered animals, such as ibexes, gazelles, oryxes, and ostriches across six natural reserves, including Sharaan Nature Reserve. Meanwhile, the Arabian Leopard is undergoing conservation and breeding programs to be released into the wild soon.
The Catalyst: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is the driving force behind protection and restoration efforts, as part of its commitment to fostering sustainable tourism, ecological resilience, and community engagement.
AlUla’s Regenerative Architecture
State of Play: AlUla offers a diverse range of eco-resorts and sustainable stays which promote environmental and cultural preservation. These include Our Habitas AlUla, Banyan Tree AlUla, Dar Tantora (The House Hotel), The Chedi Hegra, Caravan AlUla (by Our Habitas), and Shaden Resort.
These eco-friendly sites use modular, non-intrusive structures and natural materials that leave the ancient sandstone formations untouched. Furthermore, AlUla has plans to transition into a model of light-touch tourism, using clean energy sources, advanced water systems, and circular economy principles, under the AlUla Sustainability Charter.
Dark Sky Recognition: As Saudi Arabia’s first designated Dark Sky location, AlUla adopts strict Dark Sky policies, limiting light pollution to protect nocturnal wildlife and preserve one of the world’s most pristine stargazing spots.
Cultural Preservation
Zoom In: AlUla is home to centuries-old cultural and heritage sites, telling the untold stories of ancient Arabia.
- Hegra: Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to over 110 Nabataean tombs carved into red sandstone cliffs.
- Jabal Ikmah: An open-air library featuring nearly 300 inscriptions of the ancient region’s pre-Nabataean Arabic languages, namely Aramaic, Dadanitic, Thamudic, and Minaic.
- Dadan: The capital city of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms from the 1st millennium BCE. It showcases advanced ancient urban planning and unique rock-cut tombs.
- AlUla Old Town: A preserved heritage village with over 900 mud-brick houses that once served as a vital stop along ancient incense trading routes.
The Human Factor: To preserve this unique heritage, AlUla has invested in human capital, training its residents to be the guardians of its legacy. This includes training farmers in sustainability practices, providing scholarships in various fields including sustainable tourism and agriculture, and forming Ranger teams from AlUla residents to protect the region’s natural environment and human heritage.
AlUla & Vision 2030
The Anchor: AlUla’s prioritization of environment and cultural heritage directly aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) and the broader economic diversification goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Bottom Line: The ICRT Gold Award serves as ample proof that AlUla has become a global model of responsible and regenerative tourism, blending nature and luxury in a world-class experience.
