ALULA, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s AlUla has won the gold award in the Nature Positive category at the 2026 International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT) Awards, for its nature-first approach to tourism development and commitment to protecting its unique natural ecosystems.
AlUla Wins Gold at Responsible Tourism Awards 2026.https://t.co/ojVr48Gvhz#SPAGOV pic.twitter.com/q2gv6Ppyg2
— SPAENG (@Spa_Eng) September 27, 2026
The award recognises AlUla’s efforts to place nature at the heart of its tourism strategy, with more than half of its approximately 22,561-square-kilometre area designated as nature reserves, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Sunday.
More than 500,000 trees planted in AlUla
The destination has also planted more than 500,000 native trees and rewilded over 1,500 animals.
The ICRT judging panel praised AlUla’s collaboration with scientists and international conservation organisations, as well as its commitment to making nature and wildlife a core pillar of destination planning in Saudi Arabia.
AlUla is home to more than 500 documented plant species. Ecosystem restoration programs 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.
