Neither a luxurious palace nor a chair to sit on… Why did the Italian PM go to a camp built in the forest of Saudi Arabia?

Relations between Saudi Arabia and the European country Italy are getting stronger. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni has arrived on a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia. The Italian PM reached Jeddah on 25 January, after which she reached Al-Ula city on 26 January, where she met Crown Prince Salman. On 27 January, PM Georgia will go to Bahrain.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Italian PM Georgia Meloni to Al-Ula and introduced her to Saudi culture. The Saudi Prince welcomed PM Georgia to the winter camp in Al-Ula, pictures of which also surfaced.
In the pictures that have surfaced, PM Georgia is seen sitting on a carpet laid on the ground, where the Crown Prince is sitting on the other side of her. There is neither any luxurious palace nor a chair to sit on. During this meeting, both the countries discussed to strengthen bilateral relations. The Crown Prince and PM Meloni also discussed rebuilding Syria after the civil war and bringing about a ceasefire in Lebanon. They also talked about Gaza and Yemen as well as the Red Sea.
The two met at Bayt Al-Shaar in Al-Ula. During this meeting, PM Meloni witnessed the heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia. The discussion covered relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy, opportunities to strengthen cooperation in various fields and regional and international developments of mutual interest.
After this meeting, the Crown Prince and PM Meloni signed an agreement to establish the Saudi-Italian Strategic Partnership Council. Along with this, both the countries signed a cooperation and industrial agreement of $ 10 billion.
Italy's PM Georgia arrived in Saudi Arabia on 25 January, but the Crown Prince met her in Al Ula on 26 January. Earlier in the year 2024, the Crown Prince had also welcomed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Al Ula. Along with this, in the year 2024, Crown Prince Salman met Iraq's PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Al Ula itself.
Crown Prince Salman's welcoming foreign PMs, presidents, and foreign ministers to Al Ula is not a mere coincidence, but a strategy to fulfill the vision of Al Ula from tourism. The Hera Archaeological Site in Al Ula is one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the country.
The Crown Prince launched the Al Ula Vision in 2023 to develop Al Ula as a tourist site in the country. The aim of this vision is to make Al Ula a global tourism destination. Saudi is taking such steps so that foreign tourists can come and enjoy the nature, history, and culture of Al Ula. Saharan Resort is being built in Al Ula. Its aim is to set new standards for tourism.
relations between the two countries
Saudi Arabia is Italy's second-largest trading partner among Middle East countries. The value of trade exchange between the two countries in the year 2023 was approximately $10.796 billion. Saudi's imports from Italy were $5.875 billion, while its exports were $4.921 billion in the same year, including non-oil exports of $737 million. 150 Italian companies are operating in Saudi Arabia.