Royal Commission and UN-Habitat engage AlUla residents in walkable neighborhoods initiative

The Royal Commission for AlUla, in collaboration with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the French Development Agency for AlUla (AfAlUla), organized an exploratory tour in the Al-Sukhayrat neighborhood near 'Villa Hegra' with the participation of around 15 local women, as part of 'Urban October' activities.

The tour, titled 'Exploratory Walk with AlUla Women,' aimed to gather participants' feedback and field assessments on safety, comfort, accessibility, and shaded areas, as well as to identify priority sites for improvement using interactive maps.

This initiative is part of the 'Walkable AlUla Neighborhoods' program, launched by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with UN-Habitat and the French Development Agency, running from November 2025 to October 2026. The program seeks to enhance community involvement in developing more walkable urban environments and improving quality of life, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Quality of Life Program.

The program has resulted in the development of the 'AlUla Walkability and Livability Indicators Framework,' which includes 40 indicators across five main dimensions, an executive roadmap with 35 practical actions, and a street design guide. Work is also underway to launch the 'AlUla Urban Lab' as an interactive platform to test urban initiatives and designs in real environments before wider implementation.

Feedback from participants will help guide the design of pilot projects within the 'AlUla Urban Lab,' such as the development of the 'Villa Hegra' area, the safe and green routes initiative for schools and mosques, heat stress reduction corridors, and future improvements in AlUla neighborhoods.

The Royal Commission for AlUla reaffirmed its commitment to developing sustainable urban environments in partnership with international experts, meeting the needs of AlUla residents while preserving the region's environmental and cultural heritage.