Prince Badr Inaugurates Villa Hegra as First Saudi-French Cultural Institution in AlUla
Alula, The Gulf Observer: The Board of Trustees of Villa Hegra held its inaugural meeting in AlUla on Thursday, chaired by Saudi Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, to review the foundation’s mission as a global hub for cultural exchange.
On the same day, Prince Badr, together with French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, inaugurated the new Villa Hegra building—an innovative cultural space dedicated to heritage preservation, creativity, and knowledge exchange. The ceremony was attended by senior officials and cultural leaders from both Saudi Arabia and France.
In a post on X, Prince Badr expressed gratitude to Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for his support in realizing the project, describing Villa Hegra as one of the most significant achievements of the Saudi-French cultural partnership. He further praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron for strengthening bilateral cultural ties, calling Villa Hegra a milestone in the strategic cooperation between the RCU and the French Agency for AlUla Development.
Prince Badr highlighted that the institution reflects the “AlUla Vision” for international cultural collaboration, expanding creative spaces and positioning culture as a driver of sustainable development. He commended the project team for establishing a platform that enhances AlUla’s global standing and opens its doors to creators from Saudi Arabia, France, and beyond.
Villa Hegra is the first joint Saudi-French cultural institution, extending the historic relationship between the two nations. Its establishment forms part of a broader partnership aimed at harmonizing people and place, while preserving AlUla’s cultural legacy and natural environment.
The new facility features spaces dedicated to visual arts, design, film—including AlUla’s first indoor cinema—and performing arts. It also serves as a center for education, training, and cultural creativity, designed to empower local and international talent while enriching the cultural life of AlUla’s residents.
Positioned as a strategic platform for culture-led sustainable development, Villa Hegra will host artist residencies, workshops, theater and film screenings, music performances, and cross-cultural programs that connect AlUla’s heritage with global artistic movements.
The institution will officially join France’s prestigious “Viva Villa” network of cultural houses, alongside renowned institutions such as Villa Medici in Rome and Villa Albertina in New York—further cementing AlUla’s role as a global cultural destination.
