Royal Commission for AlUla highlights sustainability and innovation at Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum in Washington

📷SPA

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 19, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) participated in the Saudi–U.S. Investment Forum organized by the Ministry of Investment in Washington, D.C.

RCU took part in a panel session titled “Innovation in Developing the Cities of the Future,” which addressed Saudi–U.S. cooperation in accelerating infrastructure projects and urban transformation. The session examined the role of innovation, advanced technologies, and new financing models in creating sustainable economic and social value.

At the exhibition held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the commission showcased a range of programs, initiatives, and projects. The pavilion highlighted the Arabian Leopard as a symbol of environmental cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the United States, using visual storytelling to document the stages of breeding, protection, and ecosystem restoration carried out to reintroduce the species to its natural habitats in northwest Saudi Arabia.

The participation also underscored RCU’s strategic cooperation agreement with the Smithsonian Institution, announced in May 2025 during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the Kingdom. The agreement aims to broaden the genetic diversity of the Arabian Leopard, establish an ex situ assurance population, enhance scientific and research collaboration, and raise global awareness regarding conservation of this endangered species. The partnership forms part of a wider coalition that includes the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Panthera, Catmosphere, and other international wildlife organizations.

RCU emphasized that the Arabian Leopard serves as a key ecological indicator for ecosystem sustainability in AlUla. Its conservation is part of an integrated scientific model combining breeding and habitat restoration with the reintroduction of native prey species, rehabilitation of vegetation cover, and sustainable agriculture, all aimed at restoring balance to the natural environment.

As part of broader national efforts, the commission is implementing a leading model for environmental management in AlUla, where protected areas now cover more than 50 percent of the governorate’s area. Programs are ongoing to rehabilitate habitats, release thousands of native animals, restore vegetation cover, and rebalance the food chain within a comprehensive environmental and development framework.

Through its participation, the Royal Commission for AlUla reiterated its commitment to strengthening international cooperation, advancing development and environmental partnerships, and reinforcing AlUla’s position as a global destination for biodiversity conservation.