https://arab.news/822wd
As Prince William arrives in Riyadh this week, he writes the latest chapter in a remarkable story of friendship between the UK and Saudi Arabia — one that stretches back almost a century.
This visit comes at an extraordinary moment. Our two nations are deepening our partnership across trade, energy, investment and culture in ways that would have seemed unimaginable not long ago. Vision 2030 has opened the Kingdom up to the world in breathtaking ways. Yet what strikes me most — and which I am certain will strike the Prince of Wales — is both the scale of the transformation and the care being taken to preserve what makes Saudi Arabia unique. This is a country building boldly for the future without forgetting its past.
Prince William will experience this balance firsthand. In Riyadh, he will see how sustainability, sport and technology are creating new industries and new possibilities for the next generation. And in AlUla, he will see the Kingdom’s conservation efforts and sustainable farming techniques: proof that Vision 2030 is as much about conservation as it is about modernization.
Prince William visits the Kingdom at the request of the British government, reflecting the seriousness with which the UK views its partnership with Saudi Arabia. The foundation of our relationship was traditionally energy, defense and cooperation on regional security challenges. But today, we are modernizing and broadening the relationship to create a partnership fit for the 21st century.
