Alula: The Saudi-French Joint Ministerial Committee on AlUla convened today in AlUla, co-chaired by Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Farhan and French Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, with the participation of a number of ministers and senior officials from both sides.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Commission for AlUla Abeer Al-Akel. From the French side, attendees included Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-No«l Barrot; Head of the Bilateral Affairs and Business Internationalisation Department at the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Magali Cesana, on behalf of Minister of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty Eric Lombard; and Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development Jean-Yves Le Drian.
The meeting formed part of the longstanding strategic partnership between the two friendly countries, building on the intergovernmental agreement on AlUla signed in April 2018. Discussions reviewed the principal achievements of the bilateral partnership and explored future avenues of cooperation, reflecting the strength of relations and reaffirming AlUla's status as a crossroads of civilizations and a global destination for culture, creativity, and sustainable development.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to further deepening this partnership, which has become a global model for international collaboration founded on mutual benefit and knowledge exchange, supporting development and quality-of-life objectives.
The session also highlighted the scale of joint investment, with RCU channeling more than £2.2 billion through 400 French companies in the construction, infrastructure, and public services sectors. Cooperation extends further into education, hospitality, and sport, including the introduction of French language learning at the AlUla Languages Institute, scholarships that enable AlUla students to study in France, and the opening of the Ferrandi Paris - AlUla Campus, which delivers world-class hospitality programs. Capacity-building in equestrian development was also underlined, supporting AlUla's readiness to host the 2026 World Endurance Championship.
The partnership also reflects a shared commitment to sustainable development, with flagship projects such as the AlUla Tramway and Sharaan Resort by Jean Nouvel, together with investment in renewable energy, water, and mobility.
These initiatives contribute directly to the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, including welcoming 1.2 million visitors, attracting international investment, and safeguarding AlUla's cultural and natural heritage.
The two sides also welcomed the inauguration of the Villa Hegra Foundation, the first Saudi-French cultural center in AlUla, which represents a milestone in the partnership as a platform for artistic and cultural exchange and a symbol of cultural collaboration between the two countries.
In conclusion, both parties reaffirmed their determination to continue strengthening the partnership in the years ahead, enhancing cooperation across cultural, educational, environmental, and economic fields, and further consolidating AlUla's position as a leading global model for partnership, innovation, and sustainable growth.