UK - Saudi Arabia Culture Deal
Sir Keir Starmer flew into Saudi Arabia on Monday for his first face-to-face meeting with Mohammed bin Salman (centre right) at the Royal Court in Riyadh Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/PA Wire
Greetings Warriors
let’s talk about a fascinating collaboration between the UK and Saudi Arabia, a partnership that bridges cultural heritage and international cooperation. This initiative is part of a broader effort to preserve the past while building a future that celebrates shared history and creativity. Let’s break it down and explore what this means for both nations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets The Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
A New Alliance for Cultural Preservation
The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) recently announced a groundbreaking partnership that brings British conservation expertise to Saudi Arabia. This collaboration aims to protect and conserve cultural landmarks across the Kingdom. The heritage body Historic England is at the forefront of this initiative, finalizing a deal with the Saudi Heritage Commission to share knowledge and skills.
According to the DCMS, this partnership is more than just an exchange of expertise—it’s a commitment to preserving the stories and heritage embedded in Saudi Arabia’s iconic landmarks. The programme is designed to connect the UK’s rich history of conservation with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans for cultural and tourism development.
Apple Pencil (2nd Gen)
Perfect Precision
Perfect for Notes
Attach Charge
The Bigger Picture: AlUla as a Cultural Hub
As part of the agreement, the UK will play a key role in promoting AlUla, an ancient city in northwest Saudi Arabia, and transforming it into a global cultural and tourist destination. This collaboration extends across tourism, hospitality, and heritage preservation, with UK institutions offering their insights and strategies to support the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).
The goals are ambitious but inspiring: drive two million tourists per year to AlUla by 2035 while contributing $32 billion to the local economy. Imagine the possibilities—a blend of ancient history and modern innovation, with AlUla standing tall as a testament to global collaboration.
BUY MY ART🖤
The UK’s Growing Relationship with Saudi Arabia
This partnership comes at a significant moment, as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer embarks on an official state visit to the Middle East. While the visit aims to attract investment for Britain, it also signals a strengthening of ties with Saudi Arabia. Notably, this move follows a decade of deepening collaboration between France and Saudi Arabia, with France spearheading cultural and heritage projects, including a new photography museum in Riyadh.
By stepping into this space, the UK is not only bolstering its own cultural influence but also positioning itself as a key player in Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 reform agenda.
The Complexities Behind the Partnership
While these cultural ventures are undoubtedly exciting, they come with a layer of complexity. Saudi Arabia’s efforts to rebrand itself as a cultural and tourist powerhouse are part of a broader Vision 2030 initiative. However, this progress exists alongside significant concerns over human rights issues. Between 2015 and 2022, an average of 129 executions were carried out annually in the Kingdom, raising questions about the balance between cultural reform and fundamental freedoms.
Amnesty International UK’s Foreign Policy Adviser, Polly Truscott, highlights these tensions, stating, “The dark underside to Saudi Arabia’s heavily marketed drive to create new cultural and tourist ventures… has been a major crackdown on free speech and almost all forms of dissent or political opposition.”
While these concerns are valid and necessary to address, they also underscore the importance of initiatives like these that foster dialogue, exchange, and mutual understanding.
Why This Matters
For us, this story is about more than a bilateral agreement. It’s about the power of culture to connect people across borders. The idea that experts from the UK and Saudi Arabia are coming together to preserve history is a reminder of the shared human desire to protect what matters.
It’s also a lesson in balance—how nations navigate partnerships that intertwine cultural progress with larger political and ethical challenges. As warriors of change, we can learn from this, embracing collaboration while holding each other accountable for the values we stand for.
Final Thoughts
This partnership between the UK and Saudi Arabia is a story of potential—potential to preserve the past, build the future, and bridge divides through shared heritage. It’s a testament to the power of culture to inspire, transform, and connect.
If you’re inspired by this story, let it serve as a reminder that every act of preservation, every effort to protect history, and every collaboration across borders has the potential to leave a lasting impact. Let’s continue to celebrate and protect the beauty of culture, while never losing sight of the importance of human dignity and freedom.
As always, warriors, let’s discuss! Share your thoughts in the comments and retweet to keep the conversation going.
