Tag: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Business

AlUla stars on Samsung’s global content platforms

Aug 4, 2021 by Rekha Nair 0 Comments #AlUla, #Chief Management and Marketing Officer, #Hegra, #Hyung Bin Joo, #Managing Director of Samsung Saudi, #Phillip Jones, #RCU, #Samsung, #The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), #UNESCO World Heritage Site

AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – The globally significant heritage and culture destination of AlUla is featured on Samsung’s 2021 TV lineup worldwide as part of an agreement between Samsung and The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU).

AlUla’s UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra, the abandoned Hijaz Railway Station, AlUla Old Town and the Elephant Rock formation Jabal AlFil in AlUla, Saudi Arabia are currently featuring on Samsung’s new ambient 2021 TV app with five artworks and four cinema-graphs. The AlUla images are being showcased in demo mode at 20,000 retail outlets in 62 countries around the world.

Hegra, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Samsung Ambient TV Mode
Hegra, UNESCO World Heritage Site – Samsung Ambient TV Mode

Millions of Samsung’s Galaxy Phone owners will also be able to set their wallpaper on one of AlUla’s many stunning desert landscapes including aerials views of the 20km green oasis and Nabataean tombs.

The agreement forms part of ongoing activity between RCU and Samsung which is to include a photography competition launched by a group of Samsung influencers who will be visiting AlUla this summer to take pictures through Samsung’s #withGalaxy lens.

With travel set to resume around the world in 2021, Phillip Jones, Chief Management and Marketing Officer for RCU says the timing is perfect.

“As an unexplored destination to most people around the world, the exposure that AlUla will achieve through our initiatives with Samsung is unprecedented. We know people are itching to travel and we also know that as a new and unexpected destination with vast open spaces and deep rich heritage and culture, AlUla will be an exciting prospect for many. We are excited to work with such an innovative brand and hope to continue developing interesting ideas as the past of AlUla connects with the future of tech.”

Hyung Bin Joo, Managing Director of Samsung Saudi, commented on the strategic partnership with RCU.“At the forefront of Saudi Vision 2030, AlUla is a destination with captivating sceneries and a deep routed heritage. Samsung’s collaboration with AlUla enables our consumers around the world to #experienceAlUla, Saudi Arabia’s Hidden Gem, on our latest Samsung TVs with Ambient Mode.”

Business World

Three Bocellis perform at Hegra in a celebration of life

Apr 10, 2021 by Neel Achary 0 Comments #Hegra, #Maestro Andrea Bocelli, #UNESCO World Heritage Site

The world’s most beloved tenor, Maestro Andrea Bocelli, gave a stunning performance within the surrounds of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra last night. The concert’s many stand out moments included a performance from Andrea Bocelli with his 9-year-old daughter Virginia. The duo sang Hallelujah to the delighted and intimate crowd attending the event. In fact, the concert is the first time Andrea has shared the stage with both his son Matteo and his daughter. The multi-talented family showed off their musical prowess with Bocelli swapping instruments throughout the performance.

Songs included favourites from Puccini, hits from the artist most recent album, Believe, as well as songs from the Greatest Showman and Carousel. No Bocelli performance would be complete without an encore of Time to Say Goodbye and fans both at the event and millions watching live on MBC1 in MENA and the artists YouTube channel globally were not disappointed.

Andrea with Falcon.jpg

As well as the surprise performance from young talent Virginia Bocelli, the master tenor was joined by musicians from the Arabian Philharmonic and special guests Loren Allred, Matteo Bocelli, soprano Francesca Maionchi, with Eugene Kohn at the piano.

The musical genius is said to be able to play any instrument he puts his hands on and proved this on arrival at AlUla International Airport by playing a rendition of O sole mio on a Qanoun, or Zither.

Bocelli says the concert was about a celebration of life and music, “Our planet is beautiful and music is the world’s great unifier so this moment for us has been about spreading a little joy as we all see the light at the end of the tunnel and look forward to enjoying music together again soon.”

The concert marks the third successive year that Bocelli has performed in AlUla having delighted audiences at the previous two Winter at Tantora festivals. However, this is the first time that the ancient city of Hegra will be the setting for a music event of this calibre.

Hegra, built in the first century BCE by the Nabataean Kingdom, is an ancient desert city home to thousands of tombs cut into sandstone mountains. At least 100 tombs have elaborate carved facades, a signature of the skilled Nabataean craftsmen.

Bocelli said performing in such as setting was a very special moment for the family and for all the musicians on stage: “To be here creating a piece of history in such an inspirational setting so rich in human ingenuity, heritage and culture is truly a moment we will never forget.”

Maestro Bocelli will go directly from AlUla, Saudi Arabia to Genoa, Italy to record the opera Otello, by Giuseppe Verdi.