AlUla has won the Gold Award in the Nature-Positive Responsible Tourism category at the 2026 International Centre for Responsible Tourism Awards. The recognition honors its approach to placing nature at the heart of tourism development and its commitment to protecting the destination’s distinctive natural ecosystems.
The award coincides with the global tourism sector’s observance of World Tourism Day on September 27, amid growing attention to ways of achieving responsible destination growth while preserving the natural and cultural assets that define each destination.
AlUla received the award for its nature-first development strategy. More than half of its approximately 22,561-square-kilometer area has been designated as nature reserves, while more than 500,000 native trees have been planted and over 1,500 animals have been reintroduced into the wild. These efforts reflect AlUla’s commitment to developing tourism while protecting and restoring its natural ecosystems.
The International Centre for Responsible Tourism Awards are regarded as a leading global recognition in sustainable travel. They honor organizations that use tourism to generate positive benefits for communities, destinations, and the environment.
AlUla
The awards jury praised AlUla’s strategy of placing nature at the center of its priorities. It highlighted the destination’s close cooperation with scientists and international environmental organizations, as well as its commitment to making nature and wildlife central to planning and development.
AlUla’s regeneration approach is designed to ensure that tourism contributes to restoring natural ecosystems and preserving cultural heritage. The objective is to create long-term, sustainable value for the landscapes, wildlife, and communities that form the core of the destination’s identity. Development efforts are guided by the AlUla Sustainability Charter, which places environmental protection and stewardship at the heart of the destination’s transformation.
AlUla is home to more than 500 documented plant species. Its ecosystem-restoration programs focus on supporting native vegetation, rehabilitating natural habitats, and strengthening the resilience of desert and oasis ecosystems.
Sharaan Nature Reserve
At Sharaan Nature Reserve, these efforts have included the rehabilitation of more than 74,000 hectares, supporting the recovery of natural habitats and biodiversity across the region.
Alongside nature conservation, AlUla places strong emphasis on safeguarding its rich cultural heritage. Known for its striking desert landscapes and ancient oases, the destination is home to some of Saudi Arabia’s most prominent heritage sites, including Hegra—the first Saudi site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List—renowned for its exceptionally preserved Nabataean tombs.
Together, AlUla’s natural and cultural landscapes form the foundation of its approach to developing a tourism sector that preserves the destination’s identity and heritage for future generations.
On World Tourism Day, and throughout the year, AlUla invites the world to discover a destination where ancient history, rich culture, spectacular nature, and high-end experiences meet. In doing so, it offers a model of high-value, low-impact tourism built on carefully planned development and a firm commitment to protecting the destination for generations to come.
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