UK government signs deals to share UK's top-tier cultural and
creative expertise with Saudi Arabia.
- Historic England finalising new partnership with the Saudi
Heritage Commission in cultural heritage and conservation
- Collaboration with Department for Business and Trade to
support the city of AlUla to become world-class culture hub and
tourist hotspot, with UK institutions playing key role
- Comes as Prime Minister visits Saudi Arabia to drum up
investment for the UK
The UK is set to share its world-leading expertise in culture,
heritage and tourism with Saudi Arabia, to help the country
fulfil its ambition to become a global visitor destination.
It comes as the Prime Minister visits the United Arab Emirates
and Saudi Arabia, two vital partners in the region. The Prime
Minister is set to pursue closer relations with both countries in
order to increase investment, deepen defence and security ties,
and drive growth and opportunities at home and abroad.
Historic England is finalising a new partnership deal with the
Saudi Heritage Commission to cooperate in the field of cultural
heritage and conservation. The programme of cooperation will see
heritage experts from the UK and Saudi Arabia sharing their
knowledge and skills to support the preservation of cultural
landmarks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partnership
represents a deepening of the UK's cultural relationship with
Saudi Arabia, and showcases the UK's world-leading heritage
expertise.
A second partnership deal, which was agreed by Exports Minister
and Minister for Creative
Industries, Arts and Tourism Sir today (9 December), will see
the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department
for Business and Trade (DBT) collaborate with the Royal
Commission for AlUla (RCU) to help them boost inbound visitor
numbers and spend, upskill their local people and market the city
around the world.
The city of AlUla is located in Medina province and is known for
its rich cultural history and breathtaking landscapes, from its
towering sandstone cliffs that feature intricate, ancient rock
carvings to its tenth-century hilltop fort that once served to
defend the region. It is also home to the Hegra archaeological
site - Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Prime Minister Sir said:
I'm pleased the UK is forging new partnerships with Saudi Arabia
to protect the cultural heritage of AlUla by harnessing British
expertise. 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.
The partnership deal between Historic England and the Saudi
Heritage Commission will help to advance conservation best
practices among heritage experts in both countries. Historic
England will help to develop training programmes for Saudi
Arabian specialists in conservation, restoration and
rehabilitation of heritage buildings and monuments, as well as
assisting in developing a new strategy for protecting the
industrial heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The second partnership with AlUla, which will run for five years,
will see the UK share its knowledge and expertise with the RCU
across tourism, hospitality and heritage preservation, as well as
creative sectors like music, theatre, cinema and fashion. The
RCU's aim is to drive two million tourists per year to AlUla by
2035, while generating $32 billion for its economy.
The deal will help to position Britain's world-leading creative
and cultural institutions as key stakeholders and points of
contact for the RCU, supporting the city as it develops its
tourism and cultural offering. As part of the government's growth
mission, it also represents a significant commercial opportunity
for those UK organisations, who stand to benefit from long term
working relationships, new business opportunities and increased
visibility in Saudi Arabia, while also driving further tourism to
the UK.
There will be a focus in the programme on developing skills
within AlUla's local community - including through training
programmes, seminars and workshops - to equip local people with
the knowledge and resources needed to support the city as it
grows into a top visitor destination.
Culture Secretary 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.
These collaborations highlight the global influence of the UK's
culture and tourism sectors and the positive benefits of sharing
our knowledge and skills with international partners.
Trade Secretary said:
The UK has one of the best cultural, creative and educational
offers and I'm delighted we are partnering with the Royal
Commission for AlUla to support the enhancement of this beautiful
heritage site.
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.
A further partnership has been agreed between the Royal
Commission for AlUla and the British Council as the organisation
marks its 90th anniversary. This will accelerate the UK's
collaboration with AlUla through culture, training and research.
