ALULA — Prince William, Prince of Wales, visited a number of historical, natural and cultural sites in AlUla Governorate on Wednesday, the last day of his three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia.
He was accompanied by Prince Badr bin Abdullah, Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission of AlUla.
During his visit to AlUla, Prince William was briefed on several environmental initiatives at Sharan Nature Reserve, including ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection efforts. These efforts include efforts to restore natural habitats and restore ecological balance, and the AlUla Royal Commission is working to reintroduce Arabian oryx, mountain goats and other predators, contributing to the goal of returning the Arabian leopard to its natural habitat. The beautiful Sharan Nature Reserve, located north of AlUla and covering an area of 1,500 square kilometers, is a treasure trove of natural wonders.
Prince William was also briefed on the history of the Old City and the Scented Way, and the role of culture and the arts as a platform for cultural exchange between the two countries, strengthening ties of civilization and knowledge.
The Prince of Wales then viewed artworks at the AlUla Arts Festival 2026 as part of the visit, which embodies the commitment of both countries to strengthen cultural exchanges and support joint efforts that contribute to building sustainable bridges of civilizational communication.
Prince William also met with a number of Saudi youth who are participating in joint cultural programs and initiatives between the two countries. Reaffirming the importance of investing in talent and supporting the potential of the next generation, the visit included a tour of the AlUla cultural oasis.
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Prince William’s visit reflects the depth of the Saudi-UK partnership and its continued development in the areas of cultural and artistic cooperation, environmental sustainability and human capacity building, which supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthens AlUla’s position as a global platform for cultural dialogue and sustainable development.
The visit also affirms the depth of bilateral cooperation and cultural exchanges between the two countries to strengthen partnership in culture, arts, environmental sustainability and human capacity development, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The Prince of Wales’s visit underlined the strategic importance of the existing partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the UK’s cultural institutions, within the framework of structured cooperation encompassing cultural, educational and environmental institutions. This cooperation will support the balanced and sustainable development of AlUla and contribute to increasing its profile as a global heritage, cultural and natural destination.
At the end of the visit, the Emir of Madinah, Prince Salman bin Sultan, and other officials were present at AlUla International Airport to see off Prince William.
