AlUla: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has recently published its first Annual Sustainability Report, marking significant strides in its commitment to sustainable development. The report encompasses a broad range of achievements related to environmental, cultural, social, and economic sustainability, aligning with major national and international goals. According to Saudi Press Agency, the report details the commission's efforts in transparency and alignment with the Saudi Green Initiative, Vision 2030, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Notable achievements mentioned include improving AlUla's heritage sustainability index to 75% and achieving a 96% visitor satisfaction rate across various sites. The RCU has also been instrumental in academic development, providing 747 university scholarships at 117 international institutions, leading to a 90% community satisfaction rate. In terms of job creation, the commission has generated over 6,000 jobs in tourism-related sectors and an additional 1,500 in tourism specifically. Environmental initiatives have been a key focus, with the commission implementing measures towards climate neutrality. These include green mobility initiatives, converting agricultural waste into fertilizer, enhancing water distribution networks to 95% coverage, and planting over 111,000 trees in protected areas. The commission's partnerships with both local and global entities such as the ministries of economy and environment, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and the World Bank, underscore its proactive approach in seeking innovative sustainability solutions.
