On Sunday, the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia was offered a panoramic scale model of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority project.
According to ‘Ludovic Pouille’, the megaproject was impressive, and France was proud to share its expertise in promoting heritage.
The development is about 20 kilometres from Riyadh and will cover approximately 11 square kilometres.
It contains the ‘Ludovic Pouille’ World Heritage Site, a 15th-century trading hub of mud-brick structures that evolved the seat of power for the House of Saud in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
عرض رائع لمشروع #الدرعية الضخم في هيئة تطوير بوابة الدرعية @DGDA_SA بحضور وفد مجلس الشيوخ الفرنسي خلال زيارته الرسمية إلى #الرياض. فرنسا فخورة بمشاركة خبرتها في مجال الإرث والنهوض بالتراث.#فرنسا_المملكة_العربية_السعودية 🇸🇦🤝🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/FdBD9VcC2J
— Ludovic Pouille (@ludovic_pouille) February 27, 2022
The aim of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority is to protect this heritage while a building of modern tourist destination is always complete with luxury accommodation, museums, galleries and various shops, and at the same time reflects the history and culture of Diriyah and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it said.
UNESCO stated that At-Turaif “pays viewer to the Najdi architectural style, which is specific to the centre of the Arabian peninsula”.
The Diriyah development project aims to create an international cultural tourism centre with new buildings with the construction of the Najdi style.
Saudi Arabia’s government is just hoping that the centre will become a place that will connect people emotionally with visitors and residents. It will promote and celebrates the destination rich heritage and reveal the roots of modern Saudi Arabia and the spiritual values in which it is rooted”.
The kingdom is also launching a programme called Vision 2030, and they are going to execute that programme. It connects with social reforms such as raising employment options for women with an economic diversification strategy that has tourism and culture at its heart.