ALULA — The Royal Commission for AlUla has inaugurated a language institute with the aim of developing the skills of the region’s citizens in several languages, which will contribute to realizing AlUla Vision in developing human personnel and supporting the economic development in a bid to make the northwestern Saudi city an international tourist destination.

AlUla Language Institute is considered a main part of programs that the commission offers to AlUla citizens and part of the sustainable development strategy.

The institute will offer courses in English, French, Mandarin Chinese and the Nabatean language, which is the language that indigenous inhabitants spoke in the first centuries of settlement in northwest the Arabian Peninsula, especially that this language is reflected in several inscriptions at many historical sites.

The diversity of languages offered at the institute reflects the commission’s plan to welcome tourists from most countries of the world and enable students to master the language skills necessary for communication, which will contribute effectively to developing AlUla and enhancing global cultural communication.

Prince Badar bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla, said language is the main bridge for communication and knowledge, and the languages that the institute will provide will be important to tell the story of AlUla in the most important international languages.

Prince Badr added: “Children of the homeland in AlUla are main partners in realizing its vision, and AlUla Language Institute will provide them with an important opportunity to develop their skills to speak and interact with visitors and tourists, so as to be able to narrate the historical story of AlUla through a new chapter for the biggest living museum in the world.”

The institute seeks to offer quality courses to all those willing to join its programs. It will also support AlUla Scholarship Program that is implemented under the supervision of the Royal Commission through rehabilitating candidates before their journey to the most important international universities and institutes outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Institute will also offer AlUla citizens and tourists courses to learn Arabic as part of cultural communication that will create a wide opportunity to make AlUla a hub for learning several languages.

The Nabatean language, which the institute will teach, is among the most important communication means for the land of civilizations and will create a state of interactive communication with historical signs of the place and AlUla's famous landmarks. This is considered to be an important phase to revive the language that citizens of AlUla spoke in the early centuries.

For his part, CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla Amr bin Saleh Al-Madani said establishing the institute represents a main priority for the commission and will provide an opportunity to Saudis to polish their skills through several experienced international institutions in languages offered. He noted that language is the base that is used to build opportunities and effective interaction with visitors, which is an important journey for the development of the place in a way that suits AlUla's history in welcoming the world in the cradle of civilizations. — SPA