PARIS: Long perceived as a secondary field, or even as something separate from major economic and geopolitical issues, culture has now become one of the driving forces behind Saudi Arabia’s transformation.
At the heart of Vision 2030, it is accompanying a profound transformation of the Kingdom and contributing to the construction of a new national identity, one that is increasingly open to the world.
Within this dynamic, France occupies a distinctive position. From cooperation around AlUla and artist residencies at Villa Hegra to the establishment of the Esports World Cup in Paris, initiatives are multiplying and shaping the contours of a cultural partnership that is set to grow.
For Louis Blin, a diplomat and specialist in the Arab world, this evolution should not be reduced to the spectacular rise of the entertainment sector alone.
Video games, cinema, music, heritage, contemporary arts and artistic creation are all part of the same movement: that of a Saudi Arabia seeking to combine international openness with an affirmation of its roots.
