Saudi AlUla CEO Arrested on Corruption Charges

On January 28, Amr Al Madani, who heads the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), was arrested on corruption charges. These allegations, involving $55 million in questionable contracts linked to King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, date back to before he joined AlUla and involve his company, National Talents Company. Alongside him, three of his colleagues were also taken into custody. Since the RCU's launch in July 2017, Al Madani has been working to promote the ancient Al-‘Ula site, with the Saudi government planning to invest $20 billion by 2035 in modern art and a comprehensive cultural initiative, as noted by Iwona Blazwick, chair of the RCU’s Public Art Expert Panel. AlUla is vital to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.