Arab News en Français, the newly launched online French language edition of the Middle East’s leading English language daily, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with “Experience AlUla” aiming to enhance knowledge and enrich content in French focusing on archaeology, heritage, history and sustainable tourism.
The alliance is the latest among many international agreements signed by RCU in recent years to bring greater global visibility into the culture, heritage, sustainable tourism and history of the AlUla region. The hidden gem that hosts the Kingdom’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been described as the ‘World’s Largest Living Museum,’ and is preparing to welcome visitors from all over the world to experience its unique heritage and landscape.
Representing RCU during the MoU signing ceremony, Hanouf Houthan, RCU’s CEO Public Relations Advisor said: “We are delighted to partner with Arab News en Francais, as we work to further establish AlUla as an international cultural destination and showcase our heritage, history, culture, and landscape to the world. This effort is based on protecting and responsibly developing AlUla’s outstanding natural and cultural heritage, with our community at the heart of all our actions”.
AlUla’s transformation in recent years - into a hub of exploration, protection, and opportunity - is continuing to accelerate and create a unique cultural landscape. Within the last year, AlUla hosted the second annual Winter at Tantora Festival, the first Desert X Alula, and the Hegra Nobel Laureates Conference – sparking cultural dialogue. In October 2019, Saudi Arabia opened to the world with the launch of a new tourism visa for citizens of 49 countries, which further accelerated development.
“This partnership is symbolic of the continuation of our historic relationship with France, including our partnership with The French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA), but it doesn’t end there. RCU is firmly committed to partnering with organisations across the globe and engaging with brilliant minds from all walks of life”, Houthan added.
Representing Arab News en Français during the MoU signing ceremony, Randa Takieddine, Paris Chief Correspondent Arab News en français, said: “Storytelling is at the heart of what we do at Arab News and there is nothing that gives more pleasure than to tell the untold culture stories of the extremely rich history of AlUla to a whole new audience.”
The AlUla region’s human history began over 200,000 years ago, yet only just recently has modern tourism begun to discover the depth of its experiences in sustainable and environment-friendly manner. Currently, archaeologists from Saudi Arabia and around the world are rediscovering this history, making AlUla a central element of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy.
The first product of the cooperation is an Arab News Deep Dive called “The Rebirth of AlUla,” which is available in French (Link).
