The UK government has announced new culture partnerships with Saudi Arabia to conserve heritage sites and collaborate with the AlUla project.
The deal comes as Keir Starmer, the UK prime minister, visits the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The PM is pursuing closer relations with both countries in a bid to increase investment and drive growth, among other things.
One of the new partnership deals is between Historic England and the Saudi Heritage Commission to conserve heritage sites and cultural landmarks in Saudi Arabia.
UK to share expertise in culture, heritage
Culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The UK is a world leader in cultural heritage and conservation.
“Our experts at Historic England are opening up a new frontier of international heritage cooperation, as they work with their Saudi counterparts to safeguard some of the Middle East’s most significant cultural landmarks.”
Another partnership deal will see the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Business and Trade (DBT) collaborate with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) to help the organisation increase inbound visitor numbers and spending, upskill its local people, and promote AlUla across the world.
RCU is creating the $15 billion AlUla project in Saudi Arabia, billed as the world’s largest living museum, alongside Afalula – the French government agency for the development.
“I’m pleased the UK is forging new partnerships with Saudi Arabia to protect the cultural heritage of AlUla by harnessing British expertise,” said Starmer.
“Through deeper economic ties with key partners such as Saudi Arabia, we can unlock growth and new opportunities both at home and abroad to deliver change that is felt by working people in the UK.”
Trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds added: “This collaboration will strengthen our partnership with Saudi Arabia and provide British service providers with an opportunity to showcase their expertise in an exciting and dynamic economy.”
In more news, Saudi Arabia is giving €50 million towards the renovation of Paris’ Centre Pompidou, in an expansion of its cultural partnership with France.
Images courtesy of RCU
