Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla explores areas for cooperation with India in heritage conservation, eco-tourism and agriculture

New Delhi [India] Feb 20 (ANI): Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for AlUla engaged in discussions surrounding opportunities for bilateral cooperation with India in areas such as heritage conservation, eco-tourism and agriculture. The RCU comes to India as part of a high-level delegation led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi, India. Saudi Arabia and India have been long time trade partners and the visit highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to bolstering ties with India and the East more broadly.
Saudi Arabia and India have had common strategic interests and the Kingdom has been India’s principal source of crude imports from the Gulf region. The delegation led by the Crown Prince explored areas for potential cooperation, in line with the Royal Commission’s commitments to involving the world in the development and preservation plans for AlUla.
As part of the visit, the Royal Commission discussed its development efforts in the AlUla region. Given the strategic relationship between Saudi Arabia and India, the RCU delegation also explored specific areas for cooperation pertaining to cultural exchange, nature and ecotourism, heritage conservation and agriculture. 
"Our visit to New Delhi is an exciting opportunity to invite the world to share in our efforts to protect AlUla’s natural heritage and share its’ rich cultural history. AlUla is a journey through time that activates the senses. AlUla transcends borders and our presence here today is a testament to that spirit of cultural exchange and international collaboration,” remarked Amr AlMadani, CEO, RCU.
Set in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s northwest region, AlUla contains a number of archaeological treasures and ancient cities, with evidence of major civilizations, including most notably the Dadan/Lihyan and the Nabataean kingdoms. Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site was the prominent southern capital of the Nabataeans.
On 10 February, under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Royal Commission for AlUla, the Royal Commission launched its vision to responsibly develop AlUla into a world-heritage destination centred around the region’s spectacular natural and cultural heritage.
As part of this commitment to responsible development and conservation, the Royal Commission announced the designation of the Sharaan valley as a nature reserve, the development of a luxury resort called the Sharaan resort, which will be designed by visionary architect Jean Nouvel and carved into the natural rock formations of AlUla. Lastly, the Commission announced its plans to create the Global Fund for the Arabian Leopard, the largest protection fund dedicated to this critically endangered species. This story is provided by NewsVoir. (ANI)