• Jack Lang, president of IMA and former French culture minister, announced the extension of the exhibition until March 8, due to the positive reaction
• Throughout history, AlUla has been a crossroad between East and West; It was built and developed by successive communities and civilizations’ contributions over thousands of years

Arab News

PARIS: “AlUla: Wonder of Arabia” exhibition continues its stay at the Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris.

Organized with international cooperation between the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and IMA, with the support of the French Agency for the Development of AlUla (Afalula), “AlUla: Wonder of Arabia” is the world’s first major exhibition dedicated to exploring the multilayered history and arresting scenery of the area.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) witnessed the turnout at the exhibition which aims to introduce visitors to AlUla’s natural beauty and rich cultural heritage, through exhibiting a large collection of rare artifacts, the use of diverse visual media, and a collection of photos for renowned world photographer, Arthus-Bertrand.

Jack Lang, president of IMA and former French culture minister, announced the extension of the exhibition until March 8, due to the positive reaction, especially in the French media, and great turnout. He noted that the RCU welcomed the decision, given the exhibition’s international success.

Although the organizers describe AlUla as an “oasis with 7000 years of history,” it has only been in recent years that it was brought to the world’s attention, thanks to strategic efforts supported by Saudi government officials. The RCU was founded in 2017 with the aim — in collaboration with overseas partners — of preserving and protecting the area, and promoting AlUla to regional and international audiences.

Mojeb Al-Zahrani, director general of IMA, told SPA’s representative in Paris that the exhibition’s success was confirmed by large public turnout, which motivated the extension until March 8.

The number of visitors has exceeded 100,000 one week before the original conclusion date, which proved that it was one of the most important and attractive exhibitions held at the institute in the last three years, Al-Zahrani added.  

Throughout history, AlUla has been a crossroad between East and West; It was built and developed by successive communities and civilizations’ contributions over thousands of years. The exhibition transports visitors on a journey through this region’s natural and historical wonders, by shedding light on the landscape of AlUla and ancient north Arabian kingdoms (Dedan and Lihyan), and the ancient city of Hegra, the first location in the Kingdom that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.