BEIJING — Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan visited on Thursday the "AlUla, Wonder of Arabia" exhibition at Beijing's Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This visit underlines the deep cultural engagement between Saudi Arabia and China, offering a window into the rich tapestry of AlUla's civilizations throughout history. During his tour, Prince Badr explored the pavilions, viewing artifacts that narrate the millennia-old stories of AlUla and learning about the exhibition's program, which is designed to resonate with the overarching goals of Saudi Vision 2030. The exhibition beautifully highlights AlUla's multifaceted history, including its role as the ancient capital of the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms, represented through the statues of Dadan. Visitors are also treated to cinematic portrayals of the tombs of Hegra, carved into stone mountains, marking Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a collection of bronze archaeological discoveries that speak of the region's significance in the Nabataean Kingdom. A collaborative effort between the RCU and the French Agency for AlUla Development, the exhibition opened its doors in early January and has since welcomed nearly a quarter of a million visitors.
