Ula has recorded the highest improvement in the IMD Smart Cities Index 2026, advancing from 112th place in 2025 to 85th place this year, which puts it at the top of the most improved cities globally in this edition of the index, which reflects the goals of making Ula an ideal destination to live, work and visit.
This progress is an extension of the sustainable comprehensive development goals that the Royal Commission has been working on since its establishment, in accordance with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to develop infrastructure, improve services, and raise the quality of life for the people and residents of AlUla, while preserving the province's unique natural and cultural environment.<This year's edition of the index measures the performance of cities across key themes including quality of life, service efficiency, technology, environmental sustainability and smart governance. These themes are at the center of the Royal Commission's priorities, which it is continuously developing in cooperation with its partners in the public and private sectors.
In terms of quality of life, the Royal Commission continues to develop the services provided to the people and residents of <a href="https://amlak.net.The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the lifting of the moratorium on the sale and purchase of land in the center and south of the governorate, in a strategic move that opens the door for citizens and investors to participate in real estate transactions within a regulated environment. The Royal Commission for AlUla announced the lifting of the moratorium on the sale and purchase of land in the center and south of the governorate.<On the education front, the Authority has established an integrated system that includes the Language Institute, which teaches five languages, a scholarship program that has benefited more than 690 students, training programs that have enrolled more than 800 teachers, and community activities that have accommodated about 7,400 students.
In the field of transportation, DEWA completed the expansion of AlUla International Airport from 400,000 to 700,000 passengers per year, doubling passport counters and incorporating smart technologies to improve the passenger experience, in addition to smart mobility elements within the governorate, and continues to develop infrastructure by establishing power plants, water storage centers, and health facilities, as part of the second master plan "Towards a Prosperous Society“, which aims to raise the quality of life and community development.This progress is in line with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, and reflects the accelerated transformation of AlUla in terms of urban development and sustainability, supporting its development as a world-leading tourist and cultural destination, and contributing to its presence in the lists of smart cities.
