The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) has appointed Abeer M. AlAkel as the Chief Executive Officer, with immediate effect.  

Welcoming Abeer to the new role, RCU announced, “The Board of Directors of The Royal Commission for AlUla has appointed Ms. Abeer bint Mohammed AlAqel (Abeer M. AlAkel) as Chief Executive Officer of the Commission.”  

Abeer also added, “I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to The Royal Commission for AlUla's Board of Directors for the trust they have placed in appointing me as CEO. I look forward to delivering on the aspirations of our wise leadership and continuing to build on RCU’s mandate in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”  

In her new role, Abeer brings over 18 years of leadership experience across key sectors, including IT, banking, management consulting, and entertainment. She joined RCU in 2017 as the Head of Strategic Delivery, and in 2019, she was appointed Chief of Special Initiatives and Partnerships, leading major projects such as the Journey Through Time masterplan, a global design competition for the Museum of Incense Road and Perspectives Galleries: The Contemporary Art Museum, and the development of AlUla’s equestrian sector. She also expanded RCU’s global partnerships, securing collaborations with organisations such as UNESCO, IUCN, Panthera, and the World Bank to enhance knowledge sharing and expertise.  

Over the last few years, Abeer has driven key strategic initiatives and founded the Cultural Oasis Regeneration Centre, focusing on sustainable development through education, training, and agritourism to support local communities and farmers. As the CEO of RCU, she will continue to lead efforts to protect AlUla’s cultural heritage, improve residents' quality of life, and enhance visitor experiences.  

Prior to joining RCU, Abeer worked with the General Entertainment Authority as the Head of the Vision Realisation Office, PwC as a Senior Manager, SABB Bank as the Director of Productivity Management, and HP as a Business Support Analyst in the SADAD project.  

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On the academic front, Abeer holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from King Saud University and has completed the Leadership Development Program at Harvard University. Her core competencies include: change management, risk analysis, banking, management strategy, people development, and team management.

Abeer was named Acting CEO in January 2024 following the termination of former CEO Amr Al-Madani.