French Agency for
ALULA development
Governance
Saudi Arabia and France share a vision to implement a new economic and touristic development model, focused on the absolute preservation of the environment, respectful of history, and inclusive of local populations. Through art and culture, the project will be dedicated to offering an authentic touristic experience faithful to the traditions of hospitality in the Arab World.
Our Values
THE FRENCH AGENCY FOR ALULA DEVELOPMENT IS DEFINED BY FUNDAMENTAL VALUES, WHICH WE SHARE, WHICH WE IDENTIFY WITH, AND WHICH CHARACTERISE OUR WORK EACH DAY.
SHARING
From multiple disciplines and diverse backgrounds, we promote the qualities of listening and openness. Our strength lies in the harmonious blend of our multiple areas of expertise. Exchanging and sharing are inseparable from the pleasure we take in working together to support our shared project.
GOODWILL
Mutual respect is firmly established as the core value guiding our relationships with others. This goodwill enables us to work with others in a spirit of trust, both within the Agency and with our partners. Listening, availability and empathy make our everyday contacts particularly rewarding.
COHESION
United by a sense of solidarity that gives us strength and that we actively cultivate, we work hand-in-hand to successfully achieve our goals as part of our project, in an atmosphere of trust and team spirit.
PERFORMANCE
Our mission to jointly build the AlUla project drives us each day to surpass ourselves, to be more daring, in order to continue raising performance levels. Our team’s commitment to a shared goal is aligned with deep ethical and environmental convictions. Driven by a common goal, our collective success is the result of an ambition that is shared by all.
Board of Directors
Gérard MESTRALLET
Executive Chairman of the French Agency for AlUla Development – Afalula
Anne GUEGUEN
Director for Middle East & North Africa, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Aurélien LECHEVALIER
Director General of Global affairs, culture, education & development, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs
Vincent PRINGAULT
Head of Office Turkey, Balkans, CIS and Middle East, French Ministry for the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty
ARISTIDE GASANGWA
Deputy-Head for Middle East countries,
General Directorate of the Treasury
French Ministry for Economy and Finance
Organisation
The French-Saudi bilateral Agreement
Following a bilateral agreement signed on 10 April 2018 at the Elysee Palace, the French Agency Afalula was founded in Paris in July 2018 to support Saudi Arabia in the economic, touristic and cultural development of AlUla, a region located in the North-West of the Kingdom which benefits from outstanding natural and cultural heritage.
It sets out an historic cooperation between the two nations which aims to strengthen Saudi cultural and historic outreach and make the AlUla region a world-class destination, appreciated by visitors from around the globe.
A commitment
to co-construction
The Agency’s mission is to mobilize the full breadth of French expertise (specialists, operators, companies) and to support, within a co-construction framework, its Saudi partner, The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), located in Riyadh and AlUla. Founded in July 2017 and headed by H.R.H. Crown Prince of the Kingdom Mohammed bin Salman, the RCU aims at protecting and developing AlUla and promoting its cultural and natural heritage, and its population.
The best of French know-how
The Agency gathers a full range of leading French experts in the project's key fields: cultural engineering, archaeology, architecture and urban planning, agriculture and botany, tourism, education, security, water and sustainable environment management.
Afalula
Core Expertise
Culture & Heritage
Heritage protection
Archaeological sites development and creation of a museum complex around a research centre
Architecture & Development
Preservation and valorisation of the natural and cultural assets
Sustainable planning of touristic infrastructure
Socioeconomic development
Tourism & Hospitality
Turning AlUla into a world-class destination, reference for sustainable tourism
Security & Safety
Security plan and strategy development
Human Capital
Development and reinforcement of the governorate’s human and training capabilities
Environment & Infrastructures
Sustainable management of water, energy, resources and natural environment
Botanical products
Concepts and products development on the Incense trade route
Valorisation of local natural resources
Agriculture
Development of a sustainable and economically viable agriculture