AlUla wins gold at 2026 Responsible Tourism Awards

AlUla has received the gold award in the responsible tourism category for positive impact on nature at the 2026 International Center for Responsible Tourism Awards, in recognition of its approach that places nature at the heart of tourism development plans and its commitment to protecting the destination’s unique natural ecosystems.

The honor coincides with the global tourism sector’s celebration of World Tourism Day on September 27, reflecting growing interest in achieving responsible growth for destinations while preserving the natural and cultural assets that define their identity and uniqueness.

AlUla earned the gold award for its nature-first approach to tourism development. More than half of its 22,561-square-kilometer area has been designated as nature reserves, over 500,000 native trees have been planted, and more than 1,500 animals have been released into the wild. This recognition affirms AlUla’s commitment to developing tourism in harmony with the protection and restoration of its natural ecosystems.

The International Center for Responsible Tourism Awards are highly regarded worldwide in the field of sustainable travel, aiming to honor entities that use tourism to create positive impacts for communities, destinations, and the environment.

The Responsible Tourism Awards jury praised AlUla’s strategy of prioritizing nature, highlighting its close cooperation with scientists and international organizations specializing in environmental protection, as well as its commitment to making nature and wildlife central to destination planning and development.

AlUla’s renewal approach aims to ensure tourism contributes to restoring natural ecosystems and preserving cultural heritage, creating long-term sustainable value for landscapes, wildlife, and the 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 center of the destination’s transformation.

AlUla is home to more than 500 documented plant species, with ecosystem restoration programs focused on supporting native plants, rehabilitating natural habitats, and enhancing the resilience of desert and oasis ecosystems.

In Sharaan Nature Reserve, these efforts have included the rehabilitation of over 74,000 hectares, supporting the recovery of natural habitats and biodiversity across the region.

Alongside nature conservation, AlUla places great importance on preserving its rich cultural heritage. Known for its stunning desert landscapes and ancient oases, the destination is home to some of the Kingdom’s most prominent heritage sites, including Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its exceptionally preserved Nabataean tombs. Together, the natural and cultural landscapes form the foundation of AlUla’s approach to developing a tourism sector that preserves the destination’s identity and legacy for future generations.

On World Tourism Day and throughout the year, AlUla invites the world to discover a destination where history, culture, nature, and luxury experiences meet, offering a high-value, low-impact tourism model based on thoughtful development and a steadfast commitment to protecting and preserving the destination for generations to come.