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The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and SETI Institute announced their collaboration agreement as part of a long-term vision to further the development of AlUla Manara Observatory as a leading destination of the future, for space research, discovery and astro-tourism. AlUla is an ancient desert oasis located in North West Saudi Arabia with more than 200,000 years of recorded human history and ancient heritage sites with 7000 years of successive civilisations. The AlUla Manara Observatory is part of an ambitious plan to develop AlUla into a premier destination with a focus on sustainability, community and cultural and knowledge enrichment. As part of the agreement, the SETI Institute will facilitate installation of a Laser SETI instrument at AlUla Manara Observatory. LaserSETI, an optical SETI project, monitors the sky for laser flashes that could indicate the presence of extra-terrestrial technology. The LaserSETI station would be part of a broader network scanning the entire northern hemisphere night sky from various locations. Naif Almalik, AlUla Manara’s Executive Programme Director, said, “This collaboration enhances AlUla’s evolving role as a dynamic hub for science and knowledge exchange. It will equip AlUla Manara with the instruments needed to observe the cosmos in extraordinary detail and establish AlUla as a premier destination for research and astro-tourism. Just an hour’s drive from AlUla’s center, the observatory will inspire local youth to pursue diverse careers in advanced STEM fields, supporting the growth and economic diversification of Saudi Arabia in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions. “ Additionally, the SETI Institute will support in developing data analysis systems for some of the telescopes housed at AlUla Manara Observatory and provide expertise in hardware and instrument development. The SETI Institute’s Centre …

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