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Last Tuesday, I was given the opportunity to attend the Winter at Tantora festival.
I would like to thank the Royal Commission for Al-Ula for their outstanding welcome and their distinctive hospitality in such a splendid site.  My country has always believed in the project of developing Al-Ula, hence this visit was very meaningful to me. How could one not be moved by the archaeological wonders Al-Ula conceals?
At night, I attended the concert of the world-famous French violinist Renaud Capucon. The concert hall was full of music lovers, enchanted by the music and the setting. As the artist was playing, standing between the audience and the formidable rocks of Tantora, we almost believed that we were the lucky actors of a movie.

French Ambassador to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, Francois Gouyette, shows his prowess on the piano in Maraya Concert Hall ahead of ’s debut concert tomorrow.

— Winter At Tantora شتاء طنطورة (@WinterAtTantora)

Since my wife and I came back from the Winter at Tantora festival, we have kept on receiving tremendous feedback from the attendees, who had never experienced so vibrant a concert. I want to share their gratitude with you, and I can already assert that the next events will undoubtedly be a success. France has a very well-established expertise in the field of touristic attractions, and it is an honor to share it with ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, especially in the region of Al-Ula. Developing this historical area is part of the strategic partnership between our two countries. Indeed, such a noble site deserves to be recognized worldwide.
The President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, assured His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, during their last meeting in Paris in April 2018, that he would personally be committed to this strategic project. What I have witnessed in Al-Ula is only the first step toward a promising future.
Obviously Al-Ula will soon be the beacon of the touristic experience in ºÚÁÏÉçÇø, and I am convinced that the genuine hospitality of the Saudi people will soon become a new standard in the world of tourism.

Francois Gouyette has been France’s ambassador to ºÚÁÏÉçÇø since September 2016.