Villa Hegra: A New Cultural Bridge Between Saudi Arabia and France

A New Cultural Chapter Unfolds: Villa Hegra Inauguration in AlUla

October 2, 2025, marked a significant date for AlUla, Saudi Arabia, with the official inauguration of Villa Hegra, the Kingdom's first joint Saudi-French cultural institution. This momentous event solidified the ancient city's position as a burgeoning global hub for arts, heritage, and international dialogue.

The opening ceremony, attended by high-profile Saudi and French officials—including His Highness Prince Badr bin Farhan Al Saud, the Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), and French representatives—heralded the launch of a pioneering space for creation, exchange, and transmission.

Villa Hegra, established through a strategic partnership between the RCU and the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA), embodies a shared vision to foster artistic innovation and cross-cultural ties. The newly renovated headquarters, located near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hegra, features artist studios, educational spaces, an exhibition hall, a performing arts studio, and AlUla's first indoor cinema.