AlUla has won the gold award in the Nature Positive category at the 2026 International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Awards, in recognition of its approach that places nature at the heart of tourism development and its commitment to protecting the destination's unique natural ecosystems.
The award recognises AlUla's nature-first approach, with more than half of its total area of approximately 22,561 square kilometres designated as nature reserves, alongside the planting of over 500,000 native trees and the rewilding of more than 1,500 animals.
The ICRT judging panel praised AlUla's close collaboration with scientists and international conservation organisations, and its commitment to making nature and wildlife a core pillar in destination planning.
AlUla is home to more than 500 documented plant species. Ecosystem restoration programmes focus on supporting native flora, rehabilitating natural habitats, and enhancing the resilience of desert and oasis ecosystems. In Sharaan National Park, rehabilitation efforts covered over 74,000 hectares.
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