Red mud is a solid waste generated from alumina production, its massive accumulation occupying extensive land areas and leaching alkalis and heavy metals, leading to significant environmental issues such as soil alkalization and groundwater pollution. This study responds to the current demand for sponge city construction via innovatively utilizing red mud as a raw material to produce un-sintered aggregates through a novel pelletization process that leverages similarities between red mud and permeable brick materials. High-strength un-sintered permeable bricks were prepared via integrating mixing, molding, and curing techniques.These bricks improve overall compressive strength and permeability, while drastically reducing energy consumption and environmental impact during production. This approach presents a fresh perspective on red mud utilization and sponge city development, promising the environmental and economic benefits.