French President Emmanuel Macron announced he will visit Saudi Arabia for two days in December, following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The visit includes attending an economic forum and the One Water Summit on December 3, held alongside COP16 to address desertification.
The trip aims to deepen France-Saudi partnerships, with French officials looking to increase exports to Saudi Arabia, which currently lag behind exports to the UAE. Macron’s office called it “an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
During a lunch with Saudi business leaders, Macron encouraged stronger investments in France, particularly in tech, AI, ecological transition, sports, and tourism. Companies like Saudi Aramco and the Public Investment Fund, set to open a Paris office, participated in the discussions.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan also met French officials in Paris to enhance cultural and tourism collaborations. The meeting included talks on Afalula, a French agency overseeing the development of AlUla, a flagship Saudi tourism project.
Saudi energy firm Aqua Power showed interest in joint investments in Africa, targeting francophone countries like Senegal and Morocco. Meanwhile, Macron highlighted the benefits of French labour reforms and invited Saudi companies to share their views on the European market’s attractiveness.
French investments in the Gulf reached €8.7 billion in 2021, surpassing Gulf investments in France at €8.3 billion. Strengthening these economic ties is crucial amid global challenges, Macron said.
The visit marks the second Saudi-French committee meeting this year, with discussions also focusing on cultural projects, archaeological collaborations, and future cooperation in AlUla. While conflicts in the Middle East were not officially confirmed as part of the discussions, the growing partnership between France and Saudi Arabia remains a key focus for both nations.
