Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) will play an active role in both the upcoming United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification’s (UNCCD) COP16 and the concurrent Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Gallery, running from 2-13 December in Riyadh.

At these events, RCU will share lessons learned from the regeneration of AlUla County, affirming its commitment to environmental sustainability and ecological restoration in line with Vision 2030, SGI, and UNCCD objectives.

The SGI Forum, a platform dedicated to advancing green policies, will focus on key sustainability pillars. These include expanding protected areas to enhance conservation efforts, supporting the Kingdom’s initiative to plant 10 billion trees to combat desertification, and reducing carbon emissions through innovative and sustainable strategies.

RCU will participate in the SGI Gallery, showcasing initiatives and projects driving Saudi Arabia’s conservation and sustainability agenda. This includes RCU’s efforts in AlUla's comprehensive and sustainable regeneration, highlighting its contribution to Vision 2030 and the broader global environmental agenda.

Ten RCU-led initiatives will be on display, including:

  • Development of a circular carbon economy through initiatives such as AlUla’s agricultural waste management programme, aligning with SGI’s goal to reduce carbon emissions
  • Planting 500,000 trees and plants, contributing to SGI’s 10 Billion Tree goal
  • Establishing nature reserves, in line with SGI’s goal to increase protected areas
  • The AlUla Arabian Leopard Conservation and Breeding Programme

COP16, the 16th Conference of the Parties to UNCCD, marks the convention's 30th anniversary. This is the first such meeting held in the Middle East and North Africa region.

In addition to a prominent booth in COP16’s Green Zone and a presence at the Saudi Pavilion in COP16’s Blue Zone, RCU leaders will participate in panels and discussions. They will share milestones, challenges, and opportunities from AlUla’s comprehensive regeneration.

For more information on RCU’s participation, visit: https://www.rcu.gov.sa/en/partners/cop16-riyadh-sgi-forum-2024

For media enquiries please contact publicrelations@rcu.gov.sa

About the Royal Commission for AlUla

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by royal decree in July 2017 to preserve and develop AlUla, a region of outstanding natural and cultural significance in north-west Saudi Arabia. RCU’s long-term plan outlines a responsible, sustainable, and sensitive approach to urban and economic development that preserves the area’s natural and historic heritage while establishing AlUla as a desirable location to live, work, and visit. This encompasses a broad range of initiatives across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, reflecting a commitment to meeting the economic diversification, local community empowerment, and heritage preservation priorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.