AlUla: creating an iconic tourist destination

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Projects •AlUla: creating an iconic tourist destination

AlUla: creating an iconic tourist destination.

AlUla, Saudi Arabia

As part of a consortium made up of three major French engineering groups, Egis is participating in this large-scale cultural and tourism project which aims to make AlUla the first major tourist destination in Saudi Arabia.

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Client

Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Design and Construction Department (D&C).

Timeline

2021 - ongoing (until 2031)

Expected benefits

Harmonious coexistence between nature and humankind
Preservation of the cultural legacy of AlUla for the world
Development opportunities and sustainable economic growth

Key figures.

More than 200,000 Years

of Human History

120 Billion SAR

Contribution To GDP

2 Million

visitors per year by 2035

From 60,000 to 200,000

permanent residents by 2035.

Setec-Egis-Assystem Joint Venture (SEA JV) have been hired with the aim to provide a direct support to the RCU in developing, monitoring and administrating the overall Infrastructure Delivery Program, in coordination with the Asset Delivery Program, for the overall AlUla County (22,500 km²). Here Infrastructure terminology does include Primary and Secondary networks for Road & Mobility, Water & Waste Water, ICT (4G/5G, Fiber Optic, Smart City), Solid Waste as well as Operation and Maintenance Strategy for the overall listed disciplines. On top of this, SEA is also in charge to deliver special projects such as an experiential Tram line of 20,5km (16 stations) and improve the existing Airport facilities.

Scope of Services

Program Management (PgMC Services):

Development and implementation of proper QA/QC documentation
Development of the Infrastructure Program Schedule Baseline in coordination with both internal Stakeholders (other RCU Depts, Asset Program Management, Lead Design Infrastructure) and external Stakeholders (National Water Company, Saline Water Conversion Corporation, Saudi Electrical Company, STC, Mobily, etc.), running from planning phase to the end of construction, including procurement for the same
Monitoring, revise and update the Infrastructure Program Schedule Baseline whenever required
Reporting on the Infrastructure Program Schedule Progress against the latest approved baseline
Monitoring the Infrastructure Program CAPEX through Cost Consultant Supervision
Schedule, prepare and review (completeness wise) all the Procurement related documentation on behalf of RCU Procurement Dept
Schedule, prepare and arrange the Operation and Maintenance procurement and documentation on behalf of RCU County Operation Dpt. (COP) as part of County Zoning Planning Dept. (CZP)
Manage both Lead Design Infrastructure and Cost Consultants tasks related with above mentioned items, on behalf of RCU D&C.

Optional : Project Management / Construction Management (PMCM Services):

Review Contractor QA/QC process against RCU’s, and ensure its proper implementation throughout Construction duration
Review and Monitor Contractor Schedule Baseline
Review and Monitor Contractor Procurement Schedule
Review and ensure proper implementation of Contractor Method Statement and Inspection &
Testing Plans against International Common Practices and Standards through management of RCU third party consultant
Review and monitor Contractor’s Contract
Manage internal and external stakeholder interfaces & requirements
Manage RCU both site-supervision and cost control third party Consultants

The challenge.

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) was established by Royal Decree in July 2017 to capitalise upon the region’s unique cultural, heritage and natural assets and to transform AlUla County into a global tourism destination that can welcome 2 million visitors annually by 2035.

This initiative is an important cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an ambitious national plan to become a pioneering and successful global model of excellence. Vision 2030 aims to augment Saudi Arabia’s leading role as the heart of the Arab and Islamic world. It also aims to increase the number of annual visitors to 30 million, invest in the cultural and entertainment sector, and use its strategic location between Africa, Asia and Europe to build its role as an integral driver of international trade.

The Commission will be considering many factors with respect to the cultural heritage of AlUla – its traditions and archaeology – its aims include: protecting the sites, evaluating its potential for tourism and steps required and working towards a global profile.

Imagine.

Preserving and promoting Saudi heritage sites.

AlUla today offers huge potential to restore, preserve and present the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia to the world. Under the Commission, AlUla is to become the first major tourist destination in Saudi Arabia.

The legacy of AlUla’s earlier civilizations, and the untouched beauty of its landscapes, give an exceptional and exciting opportunity to establish a new kind of cultural destination: a vast, open air, living museum that brings the past to life and inspires new creative endeavor. This will enrich the lives of the people of AlUla as well as those who visit the region to enjoy its history, art, nature, hospitality and creative energy.

In order to safeguard its precious landscapes and cultural heritage for future generations, AlUla is developing a world-leading, socially responsible approach to the conservation, interpretation and presentation of its culture and heritage.

The AlUla Framework Plan develops and implements the principles laid out in the Charter of AlUla, translating the vision into an implementable reality. It provides the RCU’s statement of intent, detailing the objectives, policies and guidelines required to achieve balanced and sustainable development and protection. Additionally, it provides direction and clarity to investors, implementation partners, and local stakeholders for the protection, delivery and management of AlUla to 2035.

Create.

A Franco-Saudi partnership promoting French expertise in engineering and infrastructure.

On October 27, 2021, a contract establishing a long-term strategic partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and a French consortium was signed. This consortium, which includes Egis, Assystem and Setec, will be responsible for accelerating the development of AlUla, which is entering an implementation phase after the launch of its Masterplan in April 2021.

The three companies will mobilize an international team with complementary skills and experience to manage the execution and operation of all of AlUla's county infrastructure (water, electricity, mobility, etc.). The French consortium will provide the Royal Commission with expertise in infrastructure program management and construction management to secure priority projects and long-term development of AlUla. Part of the team will be based in AlUla and will include high-level specialists in engineering, construction and operations management.

Our long-term partnership with the Royal Commission will be based on sharing international best practices, innovation and technology transfer. The consortium will help make AlUla a sustainable, innovative and inclusive development model, designed to benefit the local population and visitors from around the world.

Achieve.

Turning AlUla County into a living museum.

With the aim of realizing Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz's vision for AlUla, the engineering consortium will bring all its technical know-how and experience to help the client create an iconic tourist destination, which will offer the highest quality experiences to national and international visitors, promote its natural and cultural treasures.
AlUla will safeguard its precious landscapes and cultural heritage for future generations. It will be the Kingdom’s gift to the world as the largest living landscape museum, creating remarkable memories.

We will turn AlUla County into a living museum, creating memories that visitors will share with the world. Heritage is the main asset of AlUla. We have to use this asset to offer visitors a unique journey through time where they can enjoy a living museum.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

We want to make artefacts worthy of the next thousand-year future. So, to be consistent with the place imagine designing things that will be just as astonishing to people 1000 years from now, as these things are to us today.

William Andrews McDonoughAuthor, Advisor for RCU, and Founding Partner at William McDonough + Partners and Chief Executive of McDonough Innovation

Community impact.

Impact on Heritage and Cultural sustainability.

The first target of the Royal Commission for AlUla, and on a greater extent the Saudi Royalty, is to highlight Heritage from all ages by making AlUla one of the World’s largest living Museum.

Considering AlUla's fragile desert and heritage environment, sustainable and responsible development lies at the heart of this strategy. Backed by extensive studies of human patterns, environmental and geological evolution, robust policies have been created around development in sensitive areas.

The “Journey Through Time” strategy comes from these considerations and is implemented through the development/regeneration of many major areas across the AlUla County :

AlUla Oasis Heritage Trail - The picture-perfect, lush AlUla Oasis captures the beauty and the heritage of AlUla. Take a stroll under towering date palms and smell the cool freshness of the earth on the Heritage Oasis Trail. Meander through remnants of mudbrick houses, local farms and ancient city walls. Sit with locals, sip on Arabic coffee or fresh orange juice and take your time to enjoy the slow pace of what makes the AlUla Oasis so special.

Sharaan Nature Reserve - This Reserve has been designed to protect some of the most important and significant natural habitats for conservation of biodiversity in the region. It will protect and connect areas of extraordinary ecological value and the region’s precious natural balance of biota and desert environment. Additionally, the reserve aims to preserve, restore, and reinforce native vegetation, habitats and fauna and other threatened species of outstanding universal value. The Sharaan region features a variety of desert habitats that once supported a myriad of native flora and fauna species including acacia woodland, Nubian Ibex, Red-Necked Ostrich, and Idmi Gazelles as well as larger predators such as the elusive Arabian Leopard.

Wadi AlFann - This epic new destination will welcome art lovers, adventurers, and globetrotters from across the world… It’s an ambitio us project that will continue to push the arts scene in Saudi Arabia to new cultural heights. It will be dedicated to large-scale installations by renowned pioneers of land art and artists at the forefront of contemporary practice.

Impact on Primary Resources sustainability.

Aligned with The Saudi Green Initiative and going beyond the rejuvenation of AlUla's Cultural Oasis, these resiliency policies extend from a zero-carbon strategy coupled with circular economy principles, improved water management, vegetation planting, sustainable agricultural production and off-road policies.

Reduce water stress by cutting the cultivated land surface by 5 enabling natural and sustainable groundwater regeneration,
Replacing palm trees with selected local species, less water demanding,
Enhance the irrigation by bringing and implementing the most advance technology on this matter.

Impact on local education.

Education of the local population is also one of the main path of development toward long term local sustainability. This is going to be enable through below initiatives :

Development of an international school based in AlUla, running from elementary and up to secondary,
Development of a high-profile hospitality school aiming to feed AlUla prestigious resorts with local talents,
Implementation of international scholar exchanges program with partners from all around the globe,
Perpetuate ancestral local skills by providing professional training in many disciplines, jewelry, pottery, basketry in the Madrasah,
Local guide intensive training (AlUla historical background, foreign languages, etc.).

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