Case Study · AlUla

Royal Commission for AlUla HQ — Passive Irrigation + Attenuation

Across a 47,126 m² catchment, NGS combined AquaCell EXO 200 attenuation (sized for a 1-in-100-year storm) with an AquaCell EXO 150 capillary passive-irrigation raft and GDRAIN 30 — recycling captured rainfall into the root zone over occupied basements.

47,126 m²Catchment managed
1-in-100Storm design (yr)
PassiveCapillary irrigation
2026Year delivered
ClientRoyal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
LocationAlUla, Saudi Arabia
SectorHeadquarters · podium landscape over occupied basements
Products usedAquaCell EXO 200 (attenuation) · AquaCell EXO 150 (passive-irrigation raft) · GDRAIN 30
ConsultantBuro Happold · Hopkins Architects
ContractorCCC

The challenge

A landmark headquarters required stormwater attenuation for an extreme 1-in-100-year storm AND a way to sustain podium landscaping over occupied basements — without heavy irrigation demand or risk to the structure below.

The NGS solution

NGS engineered a dual system: an AquaCell EXO 200 attenuation layer for peak-storm control, combined with an AquaCell EXO 150 capillary passive-irrigation raft that stores rainfall and feeds it back to the root zone by capillary action, with GDRAIN 30 drainage — all over occupied basements.

The results

A single integrated podium build-up that manages a 1-in-100-year storm and passively irrigates the landscape from captured rainwater — cutting irrigation demand and showcasing AquaCell EXO's three-in-one capability, delivered with Buro Happold, Hopkins Architects and CCC (2026).

Project partners

Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)Buro HappoldHopkins ArchitectsCCC
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