AlUla Outdoor Lighting Regulation Reduces Light Pollution And Protects The Night Sky

The Royal Commission for AlUla is moving ahead with new rules for outdoor lighting across the governorate. The regulations aim to cut light pollution, protect the night-time environment, and support AlUla’s unique landscape. The measures are also designed to maintain the cultural identity of AlUla while improving visual comfort and safety for residents and visitors.

RCU explained that the outdoor lighting policy considers the different activities in AlUla’s residential, commercial, and tourism areas. The governorate has been divided into several lighting zones, and each zone has its own limits and controls. These are matched to how sensitive the local night-time environment is, helping balance development needs with environmental protection.

The Royal Commission for AlUla has set technical standards that respond to the fragile night-time setting. The rules require warm light, with a colour temperature not higher than 2700 Kelvin. This approach reduces glare, keeps the night sky clearer for observers, and limits harm to wildlife that depends on natural darkness for its behaviour.

The outdoor lighting standards adopted by the Royal Commission for AlUla also support efficient technology. They encourage the use of LED fixtures that deliver at least 120 lumens per watt. A Colour Rendering Index of no less than 80 is required, which helps maintain lighting quality while saving energy across buildings, streets, and public facilities.

RCU stated that the current stage of the outdoor lighting programme concentrates on building shared understanding. It is producing guidance, interpretation tools, and awareness material to explain the objectives and rules. Official RCU channels now provide detailed information on these standards, reflecting a wider commitment to transparency, coordinated action, better quality of life in AlUla, and protection of the destination for future generations.

With inputs from SPA