AlUla Becomes 1st Destination in Middle East to be Certified by Destinations International

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
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AlUla Becomes 1st Destination in Middle East to be Certified by Destinations International

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA
The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP). SPA

Saudi Arabia’s AlUla has received accreditation from Destinations International, a US-based organization, making it the first destination in the Middle East to receive the certification.

The accomplishment is part of the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), which serves as a benchmark for destination marketing organizations to measure quality and professionalism, AlUla announced Thursday.

The accreditation comes one year after AlUla successfully joined Destinations International as the first entity from the Middle East, it said.
Since opening its doors to visitors four years ago, AlUla has established itself as one of the most significant tourism sites in the Kingdom, especially with the introduction of a year-round events calendar.

"Completing the Destination Marketing Accreditation Program is a significant milestone for AlUla. We strive to develop AlUla's tourism industry and ecosystem to be best-in-class,” said Chief Tourism Officer at the Royal Commission for AlUla Philip Jones.

Jones added: "This accreditation reaffirms our commitment to ensuring the highest standards in our destination and strengthening trust among visitors, stakeholders, and partners. We hope that being part of Destinations International, home to best practices, will enable us to share our unique approach with the world and highlight everything that makes AlUla one of the world's leading luxury destinations today."

To obtain Destination Marketing accreditation, over one hundred performance standards in areas including governance, stakeholder engagement, financial management, and destination development must be met. These standards are set by an independent committee of industry experts representing a wide range of destination organizations and are updated periodically to reflect the evolution of best practices in the sector.



Rat Earns World Record for Sniffing Landmines in Cambodia

This handout photo taken on February 23, 2022 and released by Belgian charity APOPO on April 4, 2025 shows a rat named Ronin sniffing for landmines in a mine field in Preah Vihear province. (Photo by Handout / APOPO / AFP)
This handout photo taken on February 23, 2022 and released by Belgian charity APOPO on April 4, 2025 shows a rat named Ronin sniffing for landmines in a mine field in Preah Vihear province. (Photo by Handout / APOPO / AFP)
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Rat Earns World Record for Sniffing Landmines in Cambodia

This handout photo taken on February 23, 2022 and released by Belgian charity APOPO on April 4, 2025 shows a rat named Ronin sniffing for landmines in a mine field in Preah Vihear province. (Photo by Handout / APOPO / AFP)
This handout photo taken on February 23, 2022 and released by Belgian charity APOPO on April 4, 2025 shows a rat named Ronin sniffing for landmines in a mine field in Preah Vihear province. (Photo by Handout / APOPO / AFP)

A landmine-hunting rat in Cambodia has set a new world record by sniffing out more than 100 mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance, a charity said Friday.

Ronin, a giant African pouched rat, has tracked down 109 landmines and 15 other potentially deadly war remnants since his deployment to northern Preah Vihear province in August 2021, the Belgian charity APOPO said in a statement.

Five-year-old Ronin has been named the most successful Mine Detection Rat (MDR) in the organization’s history, AFP reported.

"His exceptional accomplishments have earned him the Guinness World Records title for most landmines detected by a rat, highlighting the critical role of HeroRats in humanitarian demining," APOPO said.

Ronin beat the previous record, held by hero rodent Magawa who found 71 landmines and 38 UXOs during his five-year service before retirement in 2021.

Magawa, who was awarded a gold medal for heroism for clearing mines from about 225,000 square metres of land -- the equivalent of 42 football pitches -- died in 2022.

Ronin may have two years or more of detection work ahead of him, APOPO said.