AlUla is addressing sustainability by integrating environmental, social and economic challenges

Integrating environmental, social and economic sustainability is no small task - at AlUla, the solution comes from combining innovation and tradition

Saudi Arabia’s economy has been largely defined by fossil fuels. And yet, despite having some of the largest oil reserves in the world, the country is making a conscious pivot to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and move towards a more sustainable future.

But in AlUla, the region leading the Kingdom’s sustainable developments, this future isn’t just about climate. Instead, its vision is an integrated approach to sustainability that addresses environmental, economic, and social challenges while also employing the principles of circular economy.

The epitome of this vision is seen in the regeneration of the region, which through the 15-year Journey Through Time Masterplan, is being transformed into a world-leading living museum.

The Masterplan combines innovative new solutions with traditional wisdom to address many of the sustainability challenges that we face today.

To make its developments environmentally sustainable for example, the Masterplan is pursuing a carbon-neutral policy that’s supported by circular economy principles with the aim of reusing and recycling as much as possible to reduce waste.

To build a thriving local economy, extensive infrastructure is being created at AlUla, which will generate opportunities for tens of thousands of jobs. As part of that, there will be incubators for entrepreneurs and creative hubs for artisans and artists.

And to improve social sustainability, the Masterplan has also introduced many initiatives to not only improve the lives of the people who live in AlUla but also engage them in helping to protect its culture and heritage and the development of its future.

A new low carbon tram line is just one of the ways that AlUla is driving sustainability (RCU)

Needless to say, environmental, economic and social sustainability can sometimes be at odds with one another. So how are these challenges addressed? How do you strike the right balance between the three prongs? And are they manageable in the long term?

These are the issues that are being examined in AlUla’s first “At The Crossroads” panel, titled “People and Planet: Can AlUla unlock a sustainable future”.

The panel of experts was moderated by Dr. Maliha Hashmi, the Executive Director of Health, Well-Being and Biotech at NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s cross-border city.

Speaking on the panel were businessman and entrepreneur Alejandro Agag, former prime minister of Italy Matteo Renzi, architect and leader in sustainable design William McDonough, the director of IUCN’s Green List James Hardcastle, expert in biological oceanography Carlos Duarte, and Gérard Mestrallet, the Executive Chairman of Afalula, the French agency for Alula Development.

In the course of an hour, the panelists talked about everything from creating sustainable motorsports to truly eco-friendly tourism.

Watch the discussion in full to learn more about how AlUla is leading the way in integrated sustainability.

Learn more about AlUla and the Journey Through Time Masterplan here.