Al-Ula is Saudi Arabia’s gift to the world, says governor Prince Badr

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Updated 19 December 2019
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Al-Ula is Saudi Arabia’s gift to the world, says governor Prince Badr

  • Al-Ula valley is a place of extraordinary human and natural heritage, says commission head Prince Badr
  • Prince Badr: Al-Ula has evidence of major civilizations dating more than 4,000 years

PARIS: The contrast in locations could not have been more different. The golden glow of the sunlit sandstone of Saudi Arabia’s finest and yet little-known archaeological site set against the walls of the Musee des Arts Decoratifs — a wing of the Louvre Palace in central Paris.

The rebirth of AlUla
Hegra, ancient city of the Nabataeans in Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley, is emerging from the mists of time to take its rightful place as one of the wonders of the world

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Yet the images transported the guests from the rain-soaked streets of the French capital to an area of remote desert in the Kingdom’s northwest.
That region, an area the size of Belgium, contains a string of archaeological treasures and ancient cities dating back 4,000 years, but still unknown, particularly outside of the Kingdom.
Unknown, that is, until now. 
 On Monday night high-profile guests from Saudi Arabia and France gathered for a gala dinner in honor of a collaboration between the two countries to enhance the natural, historical and cultural heritage of Al-Ula.
Guests arrived to the sounds of classical Arabic music combined with a modern technical light display, a fitting backdrop to the intentions of the two countries to both preserve the past and yet develop the site for the future.
Speakers at the event, which coincided with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to France, included the foreign ministers of the two countries, archaeologists who have worked at the site and other senior figures involved in the project.
Guests arrived to a breathtaking exhibition of images from Al-Ula, including the striking tombs of Madain Saleh.
“Our ambition is to turn the region into one of the most exceptional archaeological and cultural destinations in the Kingdom and we are really thrilled to invite France to participate by bringing its expertise and experience to achieve this goal,” Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, told guests.
Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula, appointed last year, described Al-Ula as a “hidden jewel in northwestern Saudi Arabia.”
“The signing of this agreement is the first milestone toward the achievement of our project for Al-Ula: preserve its heritage and build the infrastructures and facilities that its beauty deserves,” he said. “France is a key partner to help us reach our objectives.”
The prince described Al-Ula in detail to those attending, who are still to find out the sheer scale and depth of the archaeological sites.
“The Al-Ula valley is a place of extraordinary human and natural heritage and a natural crossroads, and saw bustling commercial centers develop along what became the incense route from southern Arabia,” he said.
The event was attended by the French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Gerard Mestrallet, the special envoy of French President Emmanuel Macron for Al-Ula.
Others attending included senior figures in French art, culture and heritage — just the kind of people whose expertise the Kingdom wants to draw on as it opens up its heritage as part of the sweeping reform plan introduced by the crown prince.
The collaboration with France will shed more light on the civilizations that existed in the Al-Ula area over several millenia, said Irina Bokova, the former director-general of UNESCO. The Paris-based organization made Madain Saleh a World Heritage Site in 2008.
“The Al-Ula project is more than a great project of historical, cultural and natural heritage enhancing,” Bokova said. “It is about enlarging the world heritage with a great testimony of the Dedanite, Nabatean and Islamic civilizations.”
The expected easing of restrictions on foreign visitors to Saudi Arabia will allow the sites of Al-Ula to be explored, not just by tourists, but also by artists looking for a spectacular backdrop that has previously been hidden from the world.
Award-winning photojournalist Ammar Abd Rabbo said that he would love to be one of the first foreign professional photographers to take pictures in Madain Saleh.
“I’m proud to see the monuments of Madain Saleh presented like this in an amazing place which is part of the Louvre, one of the most famous museums in the world,” he told Arab News at the dinner.
“Slowly it will be a new destination for many people. You have a tremendous amount of people who are interested in such treasures and who could not access them before.”
Another guest, Isabelle Giordano, executive director of Unifrance Films, which promotes and export French cinema to the world, said that she sees an opportunity to make a “beautiful movie” set among the ancient monuments in Al-Ula.
“This country (Saudi Arabia) has so many stories to tell and it’s beautiful so I hope they will produce soon a lot of big movies and blockbusters to tell all the past and the stories,” she said.

Text of the speech at the gala dinner by Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Governor of the Royal Commission for Al-Ula.
Al-Ula is a hidden jewel in northwestern Saudi Arabia. A historic location that spans millennia, it has evidence of major civilizations dating more than 4,000 years to the first millennium BC, including most notably the Lihyan and the Nabataean kingdoms.

Al-Ula valley is a place of extraordinary human and natural heritage and a natural crossroads and saw bustling commercial centers develop along what became the Incense Route from Southern Arabia.

Al-Ula is a gift to be shared with the world. Inspired by Vision 2030, that provides an opportunity for all, a tolerant country welcoming to everyone, the Royal Commission for Al-Ula is a pioneer for a new model of cultural tourism. The Royal Commission for Al-Ula was tasked in 2017 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with preserving the region to enhance its exceptional natural, historical and cultural heritage. Because heritage is the future, because the future of the next generation lies in our heritage, our tradition and our people. And because Al-Ula’s past represents an authentic history of exchange and trade between cultures of which we must be proud. To achieve such an ambition, the royal commission turned to the world to select the perfect supporting partner.

More than 100 years ago, Frenchmen Antonin Jaussen and Raphael Savignac traveled to Al-Ula and undertook the first serious archaeological research. France has continued to be an exemplar in the fields of culture and archaeology not only in the region but also throughout the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and France share a common approach to national heritage and arts, one that maintains that culture transcends borders and should be accessible to all as global heritage. Together we strive to preserve our historical treasures for future generations safeguarding antiquities for thousands of years more.

By working closely with local communities, and by exchanging expertise with the nation of France we will create a world standard of heritage and cultural experience for Al-Ula. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate — tonight, with you — the commencement of a historic partnership for Al-Ula, a living embodiment of the meaningful relationship between the new visionary Saudi Arabia and France. Heritage is the future.

Thank you for your support and your presence.

The rebirth of AlUla
Hegra, ancient city of the Nabataeans in Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley, is emerging from the mists of time to take its rightful place as one of the wonders of the world

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Northern Borders region experiences unusual start to winter

Hailstorms left parts of Al-Jouf covered in a white dusting. (SPA)
Updated 5 sec ago
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Northern Borders region experiences unusual start to winter

  • National Center for Meteorology forecasts more rain, hailstorm

RIYADH: Heavy rain, snow and giant hailstones mean the Northern Borders region in Saudi Arabia is experiencing an unusual start to winter.

Video clips shared on social media show hail and snow blanketing areas in Al-Jouf, Hail and Tabuk with the mountains now covered, according to local residents.

Posting a video on X, a user called Sarahh wrote: “Hail suffered heavy hail on 2 November, the desert road between Rafha and Hail turned white. Heavy hail also occurred in Turaif and north of Madinah region.”

While snowfall is not unusual in the region each year, the early onset of winter has taken people by surprise as it is usually experienced in December and January.

“The heavy rainfall, hailstorm, with record-breaking sub-zero temperatures at this time and snowfall as a result … are a pleasant surprise and also an indicator that climate change is real. For those who say climate change is not real, take a peek at the cold weather conditions that Saudi Arabia is currently going through in the Northern Borders region at the onset of winter,” said Riyadh resident Mohammed Al-Harbi.

The weather has also caused flash floods in some areas, while on Friday the National Center for Meteorology forecast: “Dust-stirring winds will blow and moderate to heavy rain accompanied by hail, leading to flash floods in parts of Hail, Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, Jazan, Aseer, and Al-Baha.”

Light to moderate rain is expected in parts of the Makkah and Madinah regions, it said, adding that there may also be fog in those areas and in southern parts of the Eastern region.

Meanwhile, winds over the Red Sea will be westerly to north westerly at speeds of 10-30 km per hour in northern and central parts, and southwesterly to westerly at speeds of 10-30 km per hour in the southern part. Waves may reach from 1-1.5 meters with thunder clouds forming in the latter, with calm to choppy waters.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be northerly to northwesterly, reaching 10-40 km per hour. Waves may range from 1-2 meters and the sea will be relatively calm.


Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti speaking at the "A World Without Hunge
Updated 40 min 13 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia advocates for global cooperation to end hunger, ensure food security

  • Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti says agriculture is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development
  • He was speaking at the "A World Without Hunger” conference in Addis Ababa

RIYADH: The Kingdom sees agriculture as a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development and supporting economic growth, Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti said this week.

Al-Mushaiti led the Saudi delegation to the three-day “A World Without Hunger” conference that began on Tuesday in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

During his conference speech, Al-Mushaiti said that agriculture also played a key role in job creation and prosperity for local communities. This came through the strengthening of farmer support systems and the promotion of modern agricultural practices to increase production and improve efficiency, ultimately achieving food security.

“The significant progress made in science, innovation and modern technologies has contributed to addressing many urgent global food challenges,” Al-Mushaiti said. “However, the advancement achieved in enhancing food security remains insufficient. This underscores the crucial importance of intensifying global efforts and activating policies to develop practical and effective solutions.”

The deputy minister said that direct food aid and humanitarian relief efforts had played a key role in providing short-term solutions to food insecurity in many countries. He said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center had implemented about 900 food security projects in 78 countries worldwide, reflecting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and support for peoples facing severe conditions.

Al-Mushaiti said that boosting investment in the agriculture and food sectors had become paramount to building a world free of hunger. This could be achieved through adopting innovation and modern farming techniques, as well as providing flexible financing solutions to increase production and build resilience in agricultural and food systems.

“The Kingdom welcomes agricultural investments in all fields and offers incentives and support for investors globally,” Al-Mushaaiti said. “We seek to expand agricultural investment in countries with competitive advantages, abundant natural resources and growing markets, to leverage integrated agricultural capabilities and create more job opportunities toward achieving food security.”

Al-Mushaaiti stressed the need to strengthen multilateral international cooperation and engagement with global organizations, in addition to promoting fair trade in line with WTO standards. This, he said, would contribute to building a world free of hunger, alongside other essential steps such as exchanging best agricultural practices and technologies, expanding access to innovative financing, and enhancing infrastructure and social safety net programs.

Al-Mushaiti said that the Kingdom had taken several steps in this direction. This included launching programs and initiatives such as the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Program, which contributed to increasing the income of small-scale farmers and improving their living standards, and the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority“Monsha’at” Authority to support micro, small and medium enterprises in the sector, through financing, training and job opportunities, and other ambitious projects and programs that worked to support the agricultural sector and activate its contribution to achieving food security.

The “A World Without Hunger” conference was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union Commission and the Ethiopian government, with the participation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, to discuss topics related to the agriculture, food production and technology sectors, as well as food security, finance, food safety, infrastructure and more.


Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

Updated 08 November 2024
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Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park

RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.

Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.

Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.

“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.

“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”

Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.

Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.

“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”

Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.

Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.

Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.

Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.

The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.

In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30. 

Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.


KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)
Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered dates and winter shelter to vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.

KSrelief’s volunteers distributed 100 winter bags in Thamud district, Hadhramaut governorate, for 600 individuals from 100 vulnerable families.

These packages form part of the emergency shelter project in Yemen. (SPA)

The aid is a part of the agency’s emergency shelter project in the country.

Meanwhile, 2,459 cartons of dates were delivered in Al-Wadi district, Marib governorate, for the benefit of 14,754 people.


KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

Updated 08 November 2024
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KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered aid to people most in need in Chad and Pakistan, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Some 201 food parcels, benefiting 1,206 people, were distributed in the village of Sharkaya, in Hajar Lamis province, as part of the 2024 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Chad.

Aid has also been given to 10,500 vulnerable people in flood-affected areas of Pakistan as part of the fourth phase of KSrelief’s initiative to provide shelter materials and winter bags to the country.