The flight was part of a trade offensive for British businesses and institutions in Riyadh, with Brown's performance part of a new focus for Saudi-UK relations - international arts.
The two-day Great Futures conference in the Saudi capital drew 450 UK business leaders and politicians to its panels, dinners and meetings. Notable was a significant contingent of cultural bodies, drawing comments that the kingdom was "artwashing" - using Britain's venerable institutions to improve its global image even as concerns over its human rights record continue to mount.
"British businesses have a responsibility to mitigate their risk of contributing to human rights harms, which includes the risk of reputation laundering," said Joey Shea, a researcher focused on Saudi Arabia at Human Rights Watch.
For Britain's business elite, a reminder not to wear "tight-fitting" clothing or garments carrying "profane slogans" may not have been entirely necessary. But the fact that representatives of the UK government-funded Great Trade Campaign sent delegates the "cultural guidance" served as a reminder of the problematic backdrop to the Charm Offensive.
The Great campaign was set up in 2011 to encourage trade and tourism and, in 2021, received £60m in funding designed to complement the post-Brexit push for new trade deals. The result has been £4.5bn in exports and investment, its supporters claim.
Britain's trading relationship with Saudi is well established -from the Lightning and Strikemaster aircraft in the 1960s, to the 1985 al-Yamamah guns-foroil deal, which was embroiled in corruption allegations. It is now broadening into every industry from tech to high-profile sporting events. Saudi exports were worth £13.1bn to Britain in 2023.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 17, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 17, 2024 من The Guardian.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Sunak's Hopes For 'Bounceback' Fade As UK Economy Flatlines In April
The UK economy flatlined in April, held back by wet weather, as the signs of a recovery from last year's recession began to fade.
Southgate needs Saka but can his body take the strain in Germany?
I's Bukayo Saka a little burned out? After six years of almost always making himself available, is the Arsenal and England No 7 feeling the strain? Like many overplayed youngsters before him, are these the first signs of a player whose body is starting to plead for a rest?
Hazlewood raises run-rate dilemma but the task for England is clear
Struggling holders must beat Oman then Namibiaand hope Australia help them out
Ailing Hodgkinson shows heart from front and hangs on to 800m crown
Briton 'finds way to win' after battling illness and Gajanova to strike gold again in Italy
American dream What will be the real legacy of Cricket World Cup's New York adventure?
The shuttle bus was a squeeze, with more passengers than seats, and now someone needed to get up for the elderly couple who were the last ones on board.
China Policies fail to fix swollen property market
All across China, from Beijing in the north, to Shenzhen in the south, millions of newly built homes stand empty and unwanted.
Guilty as charged? Why Brussels wants to pull Beijing's plug
The EU has told Beijing that it plans to impose new tariffs on imports of Chinese electric vehicles into the trading bloc, potentially triggering a trade war. Here's what's been generating the sparks.
Danish PM still 'not great' after shock of assault in Copenhagen
Denmark's prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, has said she needed time out with her family to recover from the shock of being assaulted on a Copenhagen square last week and is still \"not doing great\".
Lebanon Hezbollah launches salvo after commander killed
The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has launched its biggest salvo of rockets at Israel since the war in Gaza began, in retaliation for the killing of a senior field commander, bringing the two sides closer to all-out conflict.
Les Républicains head vows to stay on despite revolt over call for alliance with Le Pen
Éric Ciotti, the leader of France's mainstream rightwing party, Les Républicains, has vowed he will stay in his job despite key members of his party voting unanimously to oust him over his proposed alliance with the far right.