His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently at the Winter Camp in AlUla. The Crown Prince welcomed the Italian prime minister to Saudi Arabia, who conveyed her delight in visiting the Kingdom and meeting with the Crown Prince.
During their meeting at the Bayt al-sha’ar, Meloni explored Saudi Arabia’s rich heritage and culture. Discussions addressed relations between Saudi Arabia and Italy, opportunities to strengthen cooperation in various fields, and regional and international developments of mutual interest. Following the discussions, the Crown Prince and Meloni signed an agreement to establish the Saudi-Italian Strategic Partnership Council.
The Italian delegation included Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci, Diplomatic Advisor to the Italian Prime Minister Fabrizio Saggio, Military Advisor to the Italian Prime Minister General Franco Federici, and other senior officials.
Saudi Arabia, Italy sign 26 deals across key industries
During the delegation’s visit to Saudi Arabia, the Saudi-Italian high-level roundtable took place, with the participation of Meloni, Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, CEOs, private sector leaders, and representatives from major companies of both countries.
The meeting highlighted the expanding partnership between the two countries and resulted in the signing of 26 memoranda of understanding across key industries, including construction, renewable energy, cultural exchange and advanced technologies. It also explored collaborative prospects in green energy, automotive manufacturing, infrastructure development, tourism, agrifood, solar and wind energy projects, sustainable tourism initiatives and advanced construction technologies.
Italian businesses to on SAR11.8 trillion in Saudi inward investment
Italian businesses highlighted their aim to capitalize on around SAR11.8 trillion in Saudi inward investment over the next six years. Heritage tourism was also a key focus, with participants highlighting Italy’s expertise and Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a leading global travel destination.
As the Kingdom plans to create 1.6 million tourism jobs by 2030, Saudi-Italian partnerships are poised to drive skills development, promote sustainable tourism and expand opportunities in the private sector.
In 2023, Saudi Arabia’s exports to Italy reached SAR18.5 billion, driven primarily by mineral fuels and petrochemicals, while imports from Italy totaled SAR22 billion, reflecting strong demand for Italian products such as machinery, pharmaceuticals and advanced engineering solutions.
In 2024, 63 investment licenses were granted to Italian firms in the Kingdom, an increase of 110 percent over the previous year, underscoring the rising Italian interest in advanced manufacturing, construction, and renewable energy.
Italian Prime Minister Visits Hegra, AlUla
During her visit, Meloni visited the Hegra archaeological site in AlUla, accompanied by the Governor of Madinah Region Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, Acting CEO of the Royal Commission for AlUla Abeer AlAkel, and several officials from both Saudi Arabia and Italy.
The visit to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, featured key archaeological and historical landmarks, including Qasr Al-Farid and other sites dating back thousands of years.
Following the visit, Meloni left AlUla, marking the conclusion of her visit to Saudi Arabia. She was seen off at AlUla International Airport by Madinah Region Governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi, and several other officials.
