Villa Hegra is an institution dedicated to cross-cultural cooperation, born from the friendship between Saudi Arabia and France.
Villa Hegra is located in AlUla, a vast region in northwest Saudi Arabia that holds the country's first UNESCO World Heritage designation and is celebrated for its unique landscapes featuring oases, dramatic sandstone formations, and timeless cultural landmarks.
By encouraging dialogue between the AlUla community and international audiences, Villa Hegra creates opportunities for expression while enhancing the region's cultural landscape.
Villa Hegra’s founding entities are the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the French Agency for AlUla Development (Afalula).
In October 2025
Villa Hegra has opened its doors in central AlUla. The venue, resulting from the renovation of two existing buildings, serves as the hub of its artistic and cultural programming, offering a space for encounter, exchange, and creative expression.
Villa Hegra’s site hosts artist residencies and studios, an exhibition hall, workshop spaces, as well as AlUla’s first indoor cinema and performing arts studio.
Since 2023
Villa Hegra has launched its off-site cultural programming in Saudi Arabia and France.
This includes a wide range of initiatives such as Artist residencies, Creative Workshops, Cine-Concerts, Performances, Masterclasses, Research Projects, and Academic Exchange Programs.
Paul Emilieu Marchesseau is Villa Hegra’s first designer-in-residence. He has been commissioned to design modular and sustainable furniture for Villa Hegra’s newly open site in collaboration with Saudi and French artisans.
Design residency - Paul Emilieu Marchesseau
Paul Emilieu Marchesseau is Villa Hegra’s first designer-in-residence. He has been commissioned to design modular and sustainable furniture for Villa Hegra’s newly open site in collaboration with Saudi and French artisans.
Saudi artist Badr Ali was invited to participate in a residency dedicated to producing a capsule collection in partnership with USM Haller as a commission to be showcased in Villa Hegra’s venue.
Artist residency - Badr Ali
Saudi artist Badr Ali was invited to participate in a residency dedicated to producing a capsule collection in partnership with USM Haller as a commission to be showcased in Villa Hegra’s venue.
In January 2025, Rachid Ouramdane, director of Chaillot – Théâtre National de la Danse, was invited to Villa Hegra for a residency focused on performing arts, laying the groundwork for future “movement workshops.”
Performing arts residency - Rachid Ouramdane
In January 2025, Rachid Ouramdane, director of Chaillot – Théâtre National de la Danse, was invited to Villa Hegra for a residency focused on performing arts, laying the groundwork for future “movement workshops.”
Saudi-American artist Sarah Brahim and French artist Ugo Schiavi are Villa Hegra’s first artists-in-residence. They presented NEUMA – The Forgotten Ceremony, an installation inspired by AlUla’s environment and their exchanges with the local community. Performances based on the work took place during the 2025 AlUla Arts Festival.
Artist residency - Sara Brahim and Ugo Schiavi
Saudi-American artist Sarah Brahim and French artist Ugo Schiavi are Villa Hegra’s first artists-in-residence. They presented NEUMA – The Forgotten Ceremony, an installation inspired by AlUla’s environment and their exchanges with the local community. Performances based on the work took place during the 2025 AlUla Arts Festival.
Saudi artist Abdulrahman Alsoliman and French artist Théo Mercier participated in Villa Hegra's residency program in 2024.
Artist residency - Abdulrahman Alsoliman and Théo Mercier
Saudi artist Abdulrahman Alsoliman and French artist Théo Mercier participated in Villa Hegra's residency program in 2024.
Villa Hegra presented its Creative Technologies Camp in partnership with TUMO and Forum des Images, an immersive experience guiding local teenagers through the full process of creating their own short films, from on-site filming to post-production and music composition, culminating in a public screening.
Creative Technologies Camp
Villa Hegra presented its Creative Technologies Camp in partnership with TUMO and Forum des Images, an immersive experience guiding local teenagers through the full process of creating their own short films, from on-site filming to post-production and music composition, culminating in a public screening.
Villa Hegra’s Art, Science, and Cinema Workshops, held in partnership with La Rotonde–Saint-Étienne, engaged over 100 children and teenagers from AlUla through interactive and educational activities.
Art, Science and Cinema workshops
Villa Hegra’s Art, Science, and Cinema Workshops, held in partnership with La Rotonde–Saint-Étienne, engaged over 100 children and teenagers from AlUla through interactive and educational activities.
Villa Hegra’s cine-concerts, presented in collaboration with Forum des Images, featured film screenings with live music, specially curated for children from the AlUla community.
Cine-concerts
Villa Hegra’s cine-concerts, presented in collaboration with Forum des Images, featured film screenings with live music, specially curated for children from the AlUla community.
Villa Hegra supports cross-disciplinary research and academic initiatives. In partnership with CNRS, IISMM, and CEFREPA, it launched the first large-scale social science program on AlUla, focusing on its transformations through history, linguistics, and anthropology. Findings were presented at a concluding seminar at Sorbonne University, Paris, in June 2025.
Research project in social sciences
Villa Hegra supports cross-disciplinary research and academic initiatives. In partnership with CNRS, IISMM, and CEFREPA, it launched the first large-scale social science program on AlUla, focusing on its transformations through history, linguistics, and anthropology. Findings were presented at a concluding seminar at Sorbonne University, Paris, in June 2025.
Villa Hegra’s architecture exchange involved 10 Saudi students from Prince Sultan University and 20 French students from Paris-Malaquais – PSL and ENSA Paris Val-de-Seine. Through collaborative workshops in AlUla and Paris, participants developed collaborative projects based on AlUla’s urban typologies.
Architecture Student Exchange Program
Villa Hegra’s architecture exchange involved 10 Saudi students from Prince Sultan University and 20 French students from Paris-Malaquais – PSL and ENSA Paris Val-de-Seine. Through collaborative workshops in AlUla and Paris, participants developed collaborative projects based on AlUla’s urban typologies.
The AlUla Studio exhibition at Paris-Malaquais Architecture School featured the collaborative architecture projects from the Saudi and French students of Villa Hegra’s exchange program. One student team was awarded by a jury including Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal.
AlUla Studio Exhibition
The AlUla Studio exhibition at Paris-Malaquais Architecture School featured the collaborative architecture projects from the Saudi and French students of Villa Hegra’s exchange program. One student team was awarded by a jury including Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal.
‘Crossings’, a contemporary dance performance by Noe Soulier, was presented by the Junior Ballet of the Opéra national de Paris for Villa Hegra at Habitas, AlUla, in December 2024, marking the first public performance by the Junior Ballet.
Crossings - Junior Ballet
‘Crossings’, a contemporary dance performance by Noe Soulier, was presented by the Junior Ballet of the Opéra national de Paris for Villa Hegra at Habitas, AlUla, in December 2024, marking the first public performance by the Junior Ballet.
Villa Hegra took part in the 2025 edition of the Art Paris art fair, presenting a site-specific proposal of Sara Brahim and Ugo Schiavi’s work NEUMA - The Forgotten Ceremony.
Art Paris 2025
Villa Hegra took part in the 2025 edition of the Art Paris art fair, presenting a site-specific proposal of Sara Brahim and Ugo Schiavi’s work NEUMA - The Forgotten Ceremony.
The performance presented by Villa Hegra at Maraya in AlUla, featuring Saudi and French artists, marked the Opéra national de Paris’ first-ever show in Saudi Arabia.
A Night with the Opéra national de Paris
The performance presented by Villa Hegra at Maraya in AlUla, featuring Saudi and French artists, marked the Opéra national de Paris’ first-ever show in Saudi Arabia.
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