Al Akel joined RCU in 2017 and has held various leadership positions, most recently as chief of special initiatives and partnerships. She assumed her current role in January 2024. In October 2023, the RCU announced a partnership with French water and waste management company Suez to provide municipal and environmental services for AlUla’s upcoming residential community. In the same month, the winning design of the AlUla International Airport Terminal was unveiled at the annual Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. In January 2024, the RCU signed a $546 million contract with Alstom to create a catenary-free tramway system that would connect all five of AlUla’s historical districts.