Sunglasses on your nose, Emmanuel Macrongot off the helicopter and surveyed the Nabataean city of Hegra, Saudi Arabia. This tourism sequence more than 4000 km from Paris where an unprecedented political crisis is brewing at the same time.
On a state visit to the Sunni kingdom since Monday, the President of the Republic was keen to honor this final step on heritage diplomacy in the Al-Ula oasis, an emblematic tourist project of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. France is co-piloting this $20 billion megaproject, and the economic stakes are therefore significant.
The program was brought forward by one hour. No official explanation, but the head of state wants to be back in Paris at the end of the day, when the National Assembly delivers its verdict on the motion of censure.
Welcomed with figs and cheese and date and hazelnut tarts, surrounded by the Saudi royal guard in black uniform and green beret, Macron admired this site with 7,000 years of history. With his jacket off, in a white shirt and tie, he attentively listened to the guide explain to him that “the Nabataeans had a very strong link with Europe” and were “very open”.
