A delegation from the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, led by RDIF’s CEO, Kirill Dmitriev, took part in the opening ceremony of the Al-Ula cultural center in Saudi Arabia. The delegation also agreed on joint projects with the Saudi part to develop the tourism industry and the participation of Russian experts in archaeological excavations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, official webpage reported.
The area around the city of Al-Ula, in the north-west of Saudi Arabia, is known for its unique historical monuments in the open air, in particular, the Mada’in Saleh complex, included in a UNESCO world heritage site.
“Russia has significant experience of working with artifacts of historical importance, and our experts in public events, tourism, archeology and art are in great demand in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. During the visit we reached an agreement for Russian archaeologists to work on historical sites across the region. Together with Saudi partners, we will invest in tourism sector of Russia and other countries. We see Al-Ula as a prime destination that will be soon appreciated by the Russian tourists and significantly exceed their expectations,” Kirill Dmitriev said.