The content of the scholarship programmes has evolved and learners are better and better prepared for their stay in France. More hours have been allocated to language learning and cultural awareness. The many workshops on interculturality, interpersonal skills and the procedures involved in bringing students to France (visas, campus life, etc.) improve their chances of success.

Cultural activities also help to build the French-speaking community and challenge prejudices. To give you one example, every month the Alliance screens a film and holds a café-discussion in French.

The AFAS and the RCU are forging closer ties, particularly in terms of cultural events and projects for teaching French for professional purposes. In view of the growing number of French tourists, tourism operators are increasingly turning to us for language training.

Our ambition is to ensure our presence in AlUla over the long term, in particular by setting up our future premises in the heart of Villa Hegra, where we will be able to welcome young visitors, organise workshops and open a library devoted to French literature.

What has the feedback been on the first sessions?

What is planned for the coming years?

This project began in November 2021 at the AlUla Languages Institute (ULI), under the aegis of the RCU. Its main mission is to offer courses in French as a foreign language to the local community. For more than a year, AFAS has taught more than a hundred students of French as a Foreign Language in evening classes.

We also provide support for Saudi students on scholarships from the Royal Commission for AlUla. A six-month programme enables them to reach an intermediate level in French. In addition, they take part in 50 hours of cultural workshops to prepare them for their future student life in France.

The programme, taught as an evening course, is intended both for Saudis and for adults of different nationalities (Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian, etc.), of all ages (from 15 to 60) and status (students, employees of the RCU, the private and public sectors).

How did the project with the RCU come about, and what does it involve?

The Alliance Française Saudi Arabia – known as AFAS – is a French cultural and linguistic centre. The institution belongs to a network established in over 135 countries around the world and it has been operating in Saudi Arabia since 2010. Its role is to foster linguistic and cultural exchanges between France and Saudi Arabia, and to promote the learning of French through a wide range of courses and workshops.

We have five branches in the Kingdom: there are two in Riyadh, one in Jeddah and one in Al Khobar. In AlUla, the Alliance organises courses and examination sessions on request and in partnership with the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the French Agency for AlUla Development (AFALULA).

We also offer language proficiency tests in French and Arabic. These internationally recognised certifications are a valuable asset for studies, employment and professional opportunities. AFAS is also a leader in this part of the world in teaching French for Specific Purposes or professional French. The very first DFP exam (Diplôme de Français Professionnel) took place in the AlUla branch in December 2022.

Lastly, as a cultural centre, we organise events with the French Embassy, enabling Saudis and other residents to discover French-speaking cultures.

What are the missions of the Alliance Française Saudi Arabia,

and how is it organised?