Amr al-Madani, leading the Al-Ula cultural initiative in Saudi Arabia, was detained due to suspected corruption on January 28th. Appointed as the director of the significant cultural project in Saudi Arabia's northwest, al-Madani faces charges of "authority misuse and financial wrongdoing," as reported by a representative of Saudi Arabia's anti-corruption agency, Nazaha, to local press.
These charges trace back to activities before his 2017 Al-Ula role. He allegedly profited from contracts, totaling $55 million, awarded by the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy – a governmental scientific institution – to a business he partially owned. According to the Nazaha source, three of his associates were also arrested, have confessed, and are pending trial.
This arrest adds a new dimension to the complex narrative of Al-Ula's extensive cultural development, a key initiative of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's "Vision 2030" plan.
In 2018, a ten-year exclusive partnership agreement was finalized between Prince Mohammed and French President Emmanuel Macron for this multi-billion-dollar endeavor.
However, recent reports suggest French diplomatic discontent over the project's slow advancement. Al-Madani has revealed ambivalent views on collaborations with French cultural entities, highlighting partnerships with British and American firms.
Discussions continue over a proposed Saudi-funded French cultural heritage fund. Jean-François Charnier, former scientific director of the French AlUla Development Agency, resigned following an inquiry into his alleged involvement in selling looted Egyptian artifacts to the Louvre Abu Dhabi. Charnier, denying these claims, was succeeded last year by Sophie Makariou, founder of the Louvre's Islamic department in 2003.
In July, Gérard Mestrallet was succeeded by former French defense and foreign affairs minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as head of the French Al-Ula development agency. Le Drian recently appointed Jean-Claude Mallet, a close associate, as special advisor.
While the French agency has not commented on al-Madani's arrest, a spokesperson noted a recent acceleration in the project, citing examples like ongoing archaeological work, global exhibitions, film initiatives, collaborations, the selection of architects Lacaton & Vassal for Villa Hegra's cultural center, and a partnership with Centre Pompidou to establish a contemporary museum at the site.
Selena Mattei