The AlUla Fellowships Programme 2025, jointly offered by UNESCO and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), is a fully funded fellowship lasting 24 months that selects 10 fellows in the fields of Heritage Research, Conservation and Management.
The theme is to deepen scientific knowledge on heritage research and conservation, and to strengthen World Heritage management capacity—especially in emergency preparedness and response. Fellows will combine fieldwork in the AlUla region with on-the-job training within international organisations and national heritage entities.
The programme supports fellows through three primary rotations: a 6-month fellowship at the Kingdoms Institute in AlUla, Saudi Arabia; a 12-month traineeship under UNESCO Culture Programme at one of its duty stations (Paris HQs and UNESCO Field Offices in Abuja, Almaty, Amman, Bangkok, Cairo, Harare, Kingston, Yaoundé); and a 6-month work-placement with a UNESCO National Commission or heritage entity.
The assignment will consider each fellow’s background and expertise while also taking into account the needs and capacities of the hosting institutions to ensure a mutually beneficial placement.
Eligible applicants must hold nationality of one of the invited UNESCO Member States or Associate Members; be between 25 and 40 years old at the time of application; have a university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in relevant heritage-oriented fields (or a first-level degree plus two years’ relevant professional experience); and excellent English (with other UNESCO official languages being an advantage).
Support includes: international round-trip economy travel for each rotation; stipends to cover living expenses; medical insurance; and other support in line with UN regulations and stipend rates. In Rotation 1, accommodation, local transportation and food (7 days/week) in Saudi Arabia are explicitly provided.
