AlUla has entered the “release” phase of the government’s playbook — following a strategy refined this year in Riyadh. The Royal Commission for AlUla has lifted the suspension on land sales and building permits in the central and southern districts, reopening the door for owners to trade, subdivide, and build, state news agency SPA reports.

This is the third major unfreeze this year. In April, the government lifted restrictions on 81.5 sq km in northern Riyadh, followed by 33.2 sq km in western Riyadh in October. The playbook has been to halt speculative construction, roll out infrastructure and zoning, then release land back to the market.

Only after the “plan” and “infrastructure” phases

The plan: AlUla operates under one of the Kingdom’s strictest planning schemes. Design codes mandate adherence to vernacular architecture to preserve heritage sightlines — a bar that makes development there more expensive.

The infrastructure: Infrastructure and utility upgrades are already in motion, including expanded power generation, five water storage facilities, and the 500 MW South AlUla solar project. Transport capacity is also being scaled up, with terminal upgrades at AlUla International Airport and plans for a 22.4-km tram line with 17 stations linking the airport to heritage areas.

What’s in it for AlUlaians?

This is a long-awaited liquidity moment, where local owners, previously locked out of monetizing their land, can now sell — drawing interest from hospitality developers seeking exposure to the gigaproject.

IN CONTEXT- The Royal Commission for AlUla has secured five years of developmentfunding and plans to roll out SAR 6 bn in projects to private sector participation. The pipeline was not affected by government spending recalibration and is geared toward accommodating population growth and attracting 1 mn visitors annually by 2030, Chief Tourism Officer Phillip Jones said back in October.

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