AlUla South is the first phase of sustainable urban development and is part of RCU’s wider plan to make AlUla a better place to live, work, and visit.

Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions on the project. If you still have further queries, please call the RCU call centre at 920025852 or email rcuinfo@rcu.gov.sa

Residents who own land in this area will be able to receive expert design advice from the AlUla Design Studio before their architect submits a building permit request via Balady.

Residents can now appoint an architect via Balady. Architects will support their clients throughout the design process and submit the final building permit request to Balady.

Each application will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and time to get a permit will vary.

We want to ensure we get the plan to develop AlUla right. This cannot be rushed as it must be sustainable and serve you and your families for years to come.

There may be several reasons why an application could be rejected. One reason could be that the land use may have been designated for public realm improvement works such as parks, shops or cafes. While these plans are still being worked on, we understand that having an application rejected will be disappointing. We will keep in touch with you to explore new options that may provide attractive alternatives as AlUla’s future plans are rolled out.

The AlUla Design Studio (UDS) will help residents and architects upgrade existing and new buildings using the new architectural guidelines for AlUla urban areas. It will provide expert design advice to make your building attractive, safe and sustainable – while making sure urban areas are developed in harmony with the landscape.

There are guidelines to ensure all buildings enhance the overall aesthetic of AlUla; these cover design feature, colours and building materials. The guidelines offer some flexibility for architects however national building codes are still applicable.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), will not be responsible for building homes. Residents who want to build on their land must arrange and pay for this work.

At the moment, restoration processes are still subject to the development freeze in central AlUla.

There is currently a hold on land transactions while studies on other areas of land are underway. Further details will be released at a later stage.

More land will become available for development in the future. We will update residents on this towards the end of the year.

Farms in Wadi Rum area are not part of the permit release zone.

Planning permits are available to commercial and residential properties, enabling local businesses to take advantage of the process. Further information about public services in new communities will be available at the end of the year.

As communities grow, we will create services to support them. We will also release details of further commercial and residential development opportunities – as part of our plans to develop land near the airport – towards the end of the year.

Our aim is to create beautiful communities, with superbly designed homes that enhance the look of AlUla. Green spaces, better walking routes and social areas will help to improve residents’ quality of life. This is aligned to our long-term plan – which stems from Vision 2030 – to make AlUla a better place to live, work, and visit.