Saudi-French Collaboration Unlocks AlUla's Potential as World Heritage Destination

 AlUla Governorate has long served as a crossroads of civilizations along ancient trade routes that connected the Arabian Peninsula to the wider world, a historic role now renewed through a growing Saudi-French partnership spanning archaeology, arts, education, tourism, and sustainability.
 The partnership was formalized through the joint intergovernmental agreement signed in Paris on April 10, 2018, in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and French President Emmanuel Macron, establishing a long-term framework for collaboration in cultural, environmental, tourism, and economic development in AlUla.
 Under the agreement, the French Agency for AlUla Development was established to collaborate with the Royal Commission for AlUla and attract French expertise, with more than 80 French companies participating in AlUla-linked projects since 2018.
 Archaeological cooperation across more than 20 years has produced significant results, with 14 research projects launched since 2019. This work culminated in the exhibition "Illuminating Discoveries: Uncovering the Layers of Dadan's History."
 The partnership extended to education, with 106 young people from AlUla receiving scholarships to study in France, supporting knowledge exchange and national capability building in heritage preservation.
 In the arts, cooperation with the Centre Pompidou supported the development of AlUla Contemporary Art Museum. The 2026 "Arduna" exhibition featured over 80 works by Saudi, regional, and international artists.
 Villa Hegra is a dedicated Saudi-French cultural institution that provides spaces for visual arts, design, performance, and artistic residencies, fostering dialogue and creative exchange between artists from Saudi Arabia, France, and around the world.
 Areas of cooperation continue to expand across infrastructure, sustainability, and tourism, reflecting an approach that leverages international expertise while safeguarding AlUla's identity and heritage.