PARIS: The development of AlUla is at the center of deepening Saudi-French cooperation in heritage, archaeology, culture, tourism and sustainable development, according to Jean-Yves Le Drian, executive chairman of the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (Afalula).
Le Drian, who also serves as personal envoy of the French president for Lebanon and is a former minister, described the relationship between Riyadh and Paris as exceptionally strong, with AlUla representing a particularly distinctive area of cooperation.
“There is a very strong partnership between Saudi Arabia and France,” Le Drian said, in an interview with Arab News en Francais, highlighting the longstanding support between the two countries.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (L) welcomes Saudi Arabia's crown prince Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) at Paris - Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, on April 8, 2018. (Saudi Royal Palace handout photo / AFP/file)
He pointed to France’s support for Saudi Arabia, as well as continued cooperation on security and other strategic matters.
“We have a very strong relationship,” he said, adding that the partnership extends to major initiatives including Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the World Expo in 2030.
Within this broader relationship, the development of AlUla occupies a special place. The Saudi-French partnership for AlUla dates back to an intergovernmental agreement signed at the Elysee Palace in 2018, establishing a framework for the region’s sustainable economic, tourism and cultural development.
For Le Drian, the objective is not simply to increase visitor numbers, but also to reveal the full value of an exceptional territory.
“The aim is to ensure that all the richness of this exceptional site is showcased, making it a global benchmark in tourism, heritage, balanced development and sustainable development,” he said.
AlUla encompasses a vast landscape of archaeological sites, historic settlements, dramatic rock formations and an oasis shaped by thousands of years of human activity. Its development is also part of Saudi Arabia’s broader Vision 2030 agenda, which places greater emphasis on culture, heritage and tourism.
AlUla has received the Middle East's Leading Cultural Tourism Project 2023 award at the Middle East World Travel Awards, raising the visibility of this historical oasis that is one of the most attractive destinations in the region. (SPA photo)
Le Drian said the Franco-Saudi partnership in AlUla is already producing tangible results, while acknowledging that significant work remains ahead.
“There is still a great deal of work to be done,” he said.
Among the recent milestones is Villa Hegra, a cultural institution that opened its doors in AlUla in October 2025. Le Drian said it would join the ranks of prestigious French cultural institutions internationally, including Villa Medici in Rome.
“It will be of the same standing, but it is a collaboration between Saudi Arabia and France,” he said.
The cultural partnership has also expanded through cooperation with the Centre Pompidou. Le Drian pointed to a recent exhibition featuring works by Pablo Picasso as an example of how the partnership is adding to AlUla’s cultural and tourism appeal.
Le Drian said the exhibition is “a powerful draw” for the cultural and tourist appeal that AlUla can represent.
The archaeological dimension of the partnership is equally significant. Saudi and French teams have been conducting extensive archaeological research across AlUla and neighboring Khaybar, helping to deepen understanding of the region’s rich history and ancient civilizations.
Saudi and French teams have been conducting extensive archaeological research across AlUla and neighboring Khaybar, helping to deepen understanding of the region’s rich history and ancient civilizations. (SPA photo)
Le Drian described the scale of the cooperation in striking terms.
“We have also developed a wide range of archaeological research, such that AlUla is home to the most important archaeological hub in the world at present, through a joint initiative between Saudi Arabia and France — an experience that is quite unique,” he said.
The research spans different periods of AlUla’s history, from its prehistoric past and ancient kingdoms to later periods, including the Islamic era.
Archaeological work at sites including Dadan continues to provide new insights into the region’s pre-Islamic history, while museum and exhibition partnerships have helped bring AlUla’s heritage to international audiences.
AlUla’s development is being pursued alongside efforts to protect its archaeological and natural heritage, with sustainability and preservation forming essential elements of the broader tourism strategy.
The development ambitions remain substantial, with AlUla being developed as a major international destination while contributing to tourism, employment and the wider Saudi economy.
French President Emmanuel Macron visited to AlUla governorate in December 2024 and toured the “Saudi-French Partnership Exhibition” at Maraya Hall, which highlighted joint efforts in culture, arts, sustainable agriculture, and archaeological preservation, among others. (SPA file photo)
The partnership brings together cultural preservation, tourism and sustainable development. Le Drian said the progress achieved so far demonstrates the direction being taken.
“We are contributing partners with the Royal Commission for AlUla, with Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Mohammed of course, but also with the CEO, Abeer Al-Akel, director of the RCU, to ensure that this partnership is exceptional, unique,” Le Drian said.
“And it is.”
As AlUla moves toward the next stages of its development, the Saudi-French partnership is set to remain central to the region’s transformation. Its significance extends beyond tourism infrastructure, positioning archaeology, culture and heritage as key pillars of a long-term development model.
For both countries, AlUla has become a visible expression of their strategic relationship, with archaeology, culture, heritage and sustainable development at the center of the partnership.
