On the Sidelines of the Crown Prince's Visit: Saudi Arabia and France Renew Strategic Partnership Agreement on AlUla

Saudi Arabia and France have renewed the strategic partnership agreement concerning AlUla Province, on the sidelines of the official state visit by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister, to France — a move that the Royal Commission for AlUla stated "affirms the long-term commitment of both countries to support comprehensive sustainable development in the province."

The Commission clarified, via its official account on the platform "X", that the agreement aims to develop AlUla into a unique global cultural and tourist destination through various programs, initiatives, and projects that achieve the "AlUla Vision" in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

The origins of the French-Saudi partnership in AlUla date back to the government agreement signed in 2018, under which the French Agency for AlUla Development "Afalula" was established — the Parisian arm that has mobilized France's expertise in archaeology, museums, cultural tourism, and hospitality to aid in the province's development. Today's renewal extends one of the deepest cultural partnerships between the two countries, corroborating what the French presidency described as the "vitality of dialogue" between Riyadh and Paris.

The renewal of the AlUla agreement adds to the growing outcomes of the visit, which also included the first meeting of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council and the signing of several agreements in the fields of technology, transportation, energy, and health.