JEDDAH: The Royal Commission for AlUla has introduced fines for dune-bashing and harmful driving on vegetated lands, emphasizing the need to protect the environment and maintain ecological balance in the governorate.
The commission said that damaging vegetation with vehicles was strictly prohibited, warning that such practices threatened AlUla’s fragile ecosystem, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Abdulrahman Al-Trairi, the commission’s spokesperson, urged civilians on his official X account to avoid reckless dune-bashing to support sustainable nature.
“Out of concern for your safety and to protect AlUla’s natural and cultural environment, we appreciate your commitment to avoiding dune-bashing on vegetated land,” he said. “This helps reduce risks, protect ecological balance, and preserve wildlife and habitats.”
Under the new regulations, fines start at SR500 ($133) for the first violation, SR1,000 for the second, and SR2,000 for the third.
The measures form part of broader efforts to prevent environmentally harmful behavior and safeguard AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
The commission highlighted that vegetated lands were among AlUla’s most valuable resources, crucial for soil protection, combating desertification and supporting biodiversity.
Unauthorized or reckless activities, including dune-bashing, degraded these resources and threatened their long-term sustainability, the SPA reported.
Preserving ecological balance is a key pillar of the AlUla Sustainability Charter, which seeks to protect heritage sites and the natural environment.
The commission called on residents and visitors to use approved camping locations, follow environmental rules, and help protect vegetation, stressing that conservation is a shared responsibility in line with Saudi Arabia’s sustainability goals and Vision 2030.
