Delivery of inspirational quality of life in AlUla is our North Star 
The Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh in late October was a moment to celebrate the growth of Saudi Arabia as an investment destination, with a remarkable $17.9 billion in agreements signed.
Now that the conference has ended, we have an opportunity to reflect on what was achieved. For the Royal Commission for AlUla, as for many other agencies assigned to fulfill Vision 2030, the common thread is improving quality of life.
The words “quality of life” has greater importance than almost any other when it comes to the long-term ambition of creating inspirational, livable cities and tourist destinations.
Delivering quality of life for communities means addressing both livability and lifestyle factors. Our residents’ expectations are increasing. We need to continue to innovate and deliver an improved resident and visitor experience — quickly.
In regenerating AlUla as a leading global destination for culture and natural heritage, the RCU is audaciously addressing and achieving this most critical ambition by striking a balance between economic viability, cultural preservation, sustainability and innovation.
As AlUla’s population will roughly triple by 2035, we must ensure this transformation is inclusive and cohesive. Rapid growth can create challenges for residents, especially in housing availability and affordability. The RCU’s Path to Prosperity master plan for the transformation of AlUla’s urban core, places an emphasis on affordability.
During the FII, we supported housing and affordability in the market by announcing plans to build 800-plus units in the new Sidrat AlUla neighborhood. Managed by the Riyadh-based Al-Akaria, Sidrat AlUla will be a zone of green spaces, cycling lanes, shaded walkways, and essential community facilities such as mosques, kindergartens and shops.
Residents will enjoy a wider range of mobility options with an emphasis on sustainability. The low-carbon AlUla Experiential Tramway will offer residents and visitors a comfortable passage as it connects landmarks, urban areas, and transport infrastructure.
In some instances, as in the case of Sidrat AlUla, quality of life is about things you can see happening with your own eyes. In addition, it is about things that you might not see but that work beneath the surface to make everyday life just a little bit easier.
Quality of life is the RCU’s Polaris, the North Star that guides us to our goals. There will be many challenges in the years ahead, but as long as we continue to navigate by this star, we will find the way forward for the people of AlUla.
For example, the agreement we signed at the FII with the Public Investment Fund-owned Thiqah will create a digital one-stop shop for more than 13 types of licenses, as a way to streamline service delivery for residents. The RCU is in a 15-year collaboration with STC that will improve the availability and quality of telecommunication in AlUla, while providing a myriad of opportunities for technologies that require high speeds and efficiency.
Digging deeper into the unseen but vital areas that influence quality of life, the RCU signed an infrastructure agreement with France’s Suez that will maintain and expand water and waste management. This is in full alignment with the AlUla Sustainability Charter, Vision 2030, and the Saudi Green Initiative.
Saudi Arabia’s transformation is making these improvements in quality of life possible. If there is one emerging industry that typifies this transformation, it is film. From a standing start five years ago, the Kingdom’s film sector has grown rapidly, both in terms of screens and shoots. AlUla’s majestic landscapes are uniquely appealing to filmmakers.
Through our agency, Film AlUla, the RCU is harnessing this change to create new career paths for creative young people — through funding for fledgling filmmakers, skills training hosted by international experts, and mentoring programs. This push is getting a big boost thanks to our headline deal at the FII, a $350-million agreement with Hollywood’s Stampede Ventures to bring 10 productions to AlUla over three years.
When I first arrived in AlUla in 2020, I was struck by the scope and scale of the work the RCU was undertaking, and energized by the benefits it would bring to this incredible and inspiring community.
Several key results indicate how AlUla is thriving and starting to transform quality of life.
Resident satisfaction with the quality of municipal services has improved by 30 percent in the last two years, average monthly income has risen 18 percent since 2021, and the unemployment rate has fallen by more than half. In addition, as of the end of 2022, the RCU has added a cumulative SR5.11 billion ($1.36 billion) from tourism and SR4.06 billion from the non-tourism sector to the economy.
Also, AlUla’s number of visitors is on track to rise 35 percent this year from the 2022 figure of 185,000, while the RCU’s efforts have generated 1,610 jobs in tourism and more than 2,100 non-tourism jobs. Further, more than 5,000 young people have benefitted from training and overseas scholarships.
As I said in a speech at the FII conference, quality of life is the RCU’s Polaris, the North Star that guides us to our goals. There will be many challenges in the years ahead, but as long as we continue to navigate by this star, we will find the way forward for the people of AlUla.
• Sultan AlKhuraissi is the chief operations officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla. He has leveraged over 20 years of experience in urban operations, management and strategy execution, to oversee the countywide planning, operations, as well as the economic, social development, and county administration of AlUla.
