The Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art has partnered with the Royal Commission for AlUla to foster cultural exchange between the United States and Saudi Arabia. This agreement, signed by leaders of both institutions, emphasizes the importance of Dadan, an ancient civilization capital, profiting from strategic trade routes. The collaboration will include joint research, conservation projects, and exhibitions. This initiative comes in light of significant US-Saudi investments and underscores the preservation of Dadan as a focal point for national identity and tourism in Saudi Arabia.
"Over the past two years, our curatorial and conservation teams have been collaborating with their counterparts in AlUla on a plan to research and study recently discovered statues at the site of Dadan in AlUla," Robinson said in a statement.
The Saudi government has made the preservation and marketing of Dadan a priority as a means of promoting national identity and international tourism.
The agreement comes on the heels of US President Donald Trump's visit to Riyadh, during which the White House released a statement praising "Saudi Arabia's $600bn commitment to invest in the United States".
The partnership with AlUla will focus on Dadan, the ancient Lihyanite and Dadanite civilisations' capital, known for its strategic role in ancient trade routes.
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