There's more to the Saudi state tourism effort than al-Ula (I refuse to use the dorky official "AlUla" spelling). Check out how they're gaming the UNESCO World

There's more to the Saudi state tourism effort than al-Ula (I refuse to use the dorky official "AlUla" spelling). Check out how they're gaming the UNESCO World Heritage list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_in_Saudi_Arabia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_World_Heritage_Sites_i... Zero in 2007, now they have 19 sites either already approved or being processed, of varying levels of actual historical value, but all applications doubtless backed by oodles of oil money. My personal favorite, if that's the right word, is Diriyah, where you can now eat Parisian pastries and shop at Dolce & Gabbana while you await the completion of the 400-shop Diriyah Square shopping mall, excuse me, "world-class lifestyle destination". https://www.diriyah.sa/en https://www.diriyah.sa/en https://www.diriyah.sa/en/dine https://www.diriyah.sa/en/dine https://www.diriyah.sa/en/shopping https://www.diriyah.sa/en/shopping https://www.diriyahcompany.sa/en/retail/diriyah-square https://www.diriyahcompany.sa/en/retail/diriyah-square