AlUla is rapidly positioning itself as a global hub for eco-tourism and conservation-led travel by placing long-term wildlife stewardship at the heart of destination development.

Through the Arabian Leopard Conservation Programme and broader rewilding initiatives, the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is demonstrating how protecting one of the world’s most endangered species can directly support sustainable tourism, ecological resilience, and responsible visitor access to nature.

This progress is being spotlighted around International Arabian Leopard Day, highlighting AlUla’s role in conservation-driven tourism and the long-term recovery of the Arabian leopard, of which fewer than 120 are believed to remain in the wild.

Central to these efforts is the Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre in Taif, the world’s only dedicated conservation-breeding facility for the species.

Since 2020, the number of leopards under AlUla’s care has more than doubled, with six cubs born since International Arabian Leopard Day 2025.

RCU has also partnered with Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute to strengthen scientific collaboration and global outreach, drawing on decades of experience in species recovery.

Across Sharaan National Park and the Unesco World Heritage Site of Hegra, carefully managed, low-impact wildlife experiences connect visitors with restored ecosystems and living heritage.

 As demand for sustainable, mindful travel grows, AlUla’s integrated approach to conservation and eco-tourism offers a global model for rewilding that enhances destination quality while safeguarding one of Arabia’s rarest species.

“This partnership allows us to do what we do best - apply science to help bring a species back from the brink of extinction,” said Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director, NZCBI. “Building on recovery efforts already underway, we’re translating that science into action to help people understand what’s at stake.”

Phillip Jones, Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “In AlUla, we believe conservation is fundamental to tourism, and we look forward to taking our light-touch tourism model to a new global audience. Protecting the Arabian Leopard is a shared responsibility that begins with regenerating and safeguarding our landscapes and extends to how we welcome travellers into those places with care. Through International Arabian Leopard Day, we’re taking AlUla’s conservation story to a global audience and sharing this extraordinary species with the world.”

Naif Al Malik, Vice President of Wildlife and Natural Heritage at the Royal Commission for AlUla, added: “The Arabian Leopard is part of AlUla’s natural heritage, and our responsibility to protect it is generational. The progress achieved through breeding, habitat restoration, and ecosystem recovery reflects years of careful, science-led conservation.” -TradeArabia News Service