AlUla, December 5, 2024 – French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to AlUla Governorate today marked a significant milestone in cultural diplomacy with the launch of the Villa Hegra project, a historic collaboration between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the French Agency for AlUla Development. This partnership, the first of its kind in the Kingdom, is a testament to the deepening cultural ties between Saudi Arabia and France. The Villa Hegra project aims to enhance global cultural diplomacy through cooperation, creativity, and dialogue, empowering local communities while fostering international collaboration in the arts, heritage, and sustainable development.
Macron’s visit also featured a tour of the Saudi-French Partnership Exhibition at Maraya Hall, where he was accompanied by prominent Saudi officials, including Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Madinah, Prince Badr bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture and RCU Governor, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Majid Al-Kassabi, Minister of Commerce. The exhibition showcased the fruitful results of the Saudi-French partnership, which was initiated in 2018 with the aim of transforming AlUla into a globally recognized cultural destination. The displays highlighted various joint efforts in fields such as culture, arts, sustainable agriculture, knowledge exchange, sports, filmmaking, tourism, hospitality, transportation, and archaeological preservation, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Macron’s visit emphasized the longstanding relationship between Saudi Arabia and France, which has focused on shared commitments to environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and social development. The Villa Hegra project, which began its preliminary phases in 2023 and 2024, features a range of programs in collaboration with French institutions like Le Forum des Images and Palais Garnier. These initiatives include film screenings, digital concerts, creative workshops, student exchanges, and academic research, all targeting youth and the local community. Additionally, the visit underscored the academic partnership between RCU and Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, which launched last year and focuses on building capacity in disciplines such as tourism management, cultural heritage, archaeology, and art history.
Another highlight of the visit was a detailed briefing on ongoing archaeological discoveries in the region, including the significant find of the Bronze Age city of Al-Natah in the Khaybar Oasis. These discoveries challenge previous assumptions about settled societies in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula and offer new insights into the history of the region. Macron also toured the ambitious construction projects underway, including the Sharaan Nature Resort and the International Summit Centre, both designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel. These innovative developments, carved into the region’s ancient sandstone mountains, represent a fusion of modern design and environmental sensitivity, incorporating cutting-edge French and Saudi technologies.
Prince Badr bin Abdullah, RCU Governor, emphasized the deep cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France, stating that the partnership reflects the immense potential of international cultural cooperation to drive sustainable development and cultural creativity. Minister of Culture Prince Faisal bin Farhan highlighted that the Villa Hegra project will serve as a transformative cultural hub in AlUla, advancing global dialogue and enriching the region’s cultural landscape.
Abeer Al Akel, Acting Chief Executive of RCU, pointed out that the partnership with the French Agency for AlUla Development represents a cornerstone in the region’s transformation into the world’s largest living museum, underlining the importance of such international collaborations in achieving the ambitious goals set out for AlUla. Jean-Yves Le Drian, Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development, described Macron’s visit as a crucial step in strengthening Saudi-French relations and enhancing bilateral cultural exchanges. The second phase of the partnership will focus on expanding artistic and cultural offerings in AlUla, with a strong emphasis on sustainable tourism and responsible cultural development, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030.
Macron’s visit, accompanied by a delegation of French ministers and officials, also included a tour of AlUla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra (Al-Hijr), and other key cultural landmarks. This visit symbolizes a new chapter in the Saudi-French collaboration, aimed at fostering cultural understanding, innovation, and sustainable development in AlUla, a region that has become a model for cultural and economic growth on the global stage. Through projects like Villa Hegra, the Kingdom is set to establish AlUla as a center for cultural creativity and dialogue, ensuring its position as a vital contributor to the global cultural and heritage landscape.
