Thales and the Royal Commission for AlUla sign new security agreement

AlUla’s world-renowned collection of ancient artefacts, important cultural landmarks, and heritage assets will be protected around the clock using the latest digital technology and surveillance equipment as part of a new security agreement between Thales and the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).

The collaboration was announced at the seventh annual Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. Titled the Strategic Security Integration Project, it will see experts from the French cybersecurity firm work closely with RCU to install and maintain a range of security devices and safety solutions.

The project will safeguard and continuously monitor areas of cultural and historic importance across AlUla. It will also expand to key urban and rural sites for the protection of AlUla’s community of residents, businesses, and visitors.

Home to numerous historic artefacts and ancient treasures of national and global importance, protecting AlUla County’s considerable cultural cache from harm, including damage from vandalism or even theft, is a major undertaking that requires the proven expertise of international specialists Thales.

In order to guarantee the safety of everything from the Nabatean tombs of Hegra to natural formations such as Elephant Rock and other landmarks, the project will employ state-of-the-art security systems all connected to RCU’s Integrated Smart Operations Centre for centralised and efficient operations, enabling security teams to respond to any and all violations or threats.

The latest agreement between RCU and Thales highlights AlUla’s growing status as an important cultural, heritage, and tourism destination that attracts increasing numbers of visitors from around the globe each year, all eager to experience AlUla’s unique living museum. It also strengthens a previous partnership signed between RCU and Thales in Paris in 2021 to drive forward RCU’s smart and sustainable city development goals across archaeology, tourism, culture, education, and the arts, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plan.