When the Kingdom's antiquities were displayed in the Louvre Museum, the Saudi-French relationship had not yet reached its current extent. At that time, culture was a window through which the French learned about the history of the Kingdom, while Riyadh was testing a new space to introduce its heritage outside its borders.
After more than a decade and a half, the landscape has changed; Culture has become one of the basic components of the Saudi-French relationship, and AlUla has become one of the most visible models of this cooperation, while cinema, museums, heritage, tourism, sports, and major events have entered the network of interests linking the two countries.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to France comes at a time when these areas have become part of the Kingdom's new economy, and not just a cultural activity parallel to political relations.
Al-Ula... when culture becomes an economic project
In Al-Ula, antiquities intersect with tourism, engineering with the environment, and the arts with economics. The Saudi-French partnership in the province has expanded the scope of cooperation to include urban planning, heritage, tourism, culture, education, training, and the arts, to provide a different model from the traditional relationship between an investing country and foreign companies.
The project is not limited to developing a historical site, but rather is based on building a global destination based on local identity and benefiting from international experience.
This type of cooperation is directly consistent with the goals of “Saudi Vision 2030” in transforming culture, tourism and entertainment into active components of the economy.
A journey that started from the Louvre
AlUla was not the beginning; In 2010, the Louvre Museum hosted the exhibition “Masterpieces of the Kingdom’s Antiquities Through the Ages,” in a station that reflected a growing French interest in Saudi history.
This was preceded by the “The Kingdom between Yesterday and Today” exhibition in Paris in 1986, while the UNESCO headquarters in Paris hosted the Saudi Cultural Days activities in 2012.
These stations reveal a long path in which the cultural relationship moved from introducing the Kingdom to building joint projects within the Kingdom itself.
Culture enters the economy
The most important change is that culture is no longer a separate sector from the economy. Tourism needs transportation, hospitality, and technology, museums need engineering, operation, and education, and major events need sports, media, and digital services, and from here culture has become part of an interconnected economic system.
This is evident in the expansion of potential areas of cooperation between the two countries to include tourism, hospitality, the creative economy, electronic games, and sports, which are sectors that are compatible with the Kingdom’s direction towards building a more diversified economy.
Sports...a new language of partnership
Sports give the relationship an additional dimension, as France’s hosting of events related to the Electronic Sports World Cup, in conjunction with the visit of the Crown Prince, provides an example of the transition of sports from a space of competition to a space of economic and cultural rapprochement.
Saudi sports itself has become a global industry that attracts investments, talents, and events, while France has extensive experience in organizing tournaments and major events.
Interests intersect here, just as they intersect in culture and tourism: Saudi Arabia provides a market, projects, and growing capital, and France provides long-standing industrial, regulatory, and cultural experience.
Education...the least visible investment with the longest impact
Exchange is not limited to projects; Cooperation between universities, research centers and educational institutions in the two countries opens a different path for transferring knowledge and building human capital.
The importance of this path is evident in the sectors in which the Kingdom wants to expand, especially science, technology, innovation, health, and engineering.
Projects may be built over a period of years, but the competencies that manage them can create an impact that extends for decades.
A partnership between two experiences
The Saudi experience differs from the French one in many details, but this same difference creates space for cooperation.
France has a long history in culture, museums, arts, and creative industries, while Saudi Arabia is experiencing a broad transformation phase during which it is reshaping the culture, tourism, entertainment, and sports sectors.
This is why the new partnership is not based on transferring a ready-made model from Paris to Riyadh, but rather on blending French experience with the new Saudi project.
This is what makes culture in relations between the two countries more than a “soft issue.” It is one of the tools through which it is possible to build a new economy, introduce people to each other, and create common interests that are not easily affected by changing political files.
From the past to the future
Over the course of nearly a century, Saudi-French relations have passed through multiple stages. From the first diplomatic representation, to the historic meeting between King Faisal and de Gaulle, then the expansion of the economy, defense, and reaching a new vision for partnership during the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
Today, Riyadh does not go to Paris only to talk about the past; Rather, it is about a future city, a new museum, a tourist destination, a creative and advanced technology industry, an energy project, and long-term investment.
In this transformation lies one of the most obvious features of the Saudi-French relationship: the bridge that began with culture today carries economics, politics, and technology with it.
Saudi-French relations are entering a different phase with the visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, to Paris. The partnership between the two countries is no longer governed by the traditional issues that have always formed the basis of the relationship, but rather it is moving on a broader area that brings together economy, technology, energy, defense and culture, and places the implementation of projects at the forefront of the next stage.
The state visit carries a significance that goes beyond its protocol dimension, as it comes at a time when the two countries are testing the ability of the partnership that has been built over the past years to move from the level of understandings and agreements to projects with a direct impact, at a time when Saudi economic transformations are reshaping its needs from international partners, while France is searching for a more established position in the path of transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing.
The holding of the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council for the first time during the visit reflects this shift in the nature of the relationship. The council, which was established following President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of 2024, was designed to be a comprehensive framework for relations in the political, economic, cultural, defense and other fields, giving cooperation between Riyadh and Paris an institutional channel at the level of the leadership of the two countries.
Partnership looking for “project”
In previous years, it was easy to enumerate areas of Saudi-French cooperation: energy, defence, aviation, transportation, culture and tourism. The new phase seems more related to a different question: What can the two countries build together?
Here, the priorities of “Saudi Vision 2030” intersect with French industrial and technical capabilities. Saudi Arabia is expanding its economy beyond traditional sectors, and is looking for advanced technologies, industrial expertise, and investment models capable of supporting sectors such as artificial intelligence, advanced industries, health, tourism, hospitality, and new energy.
On the other hand, French companies view the Saudi market as one of the world's major new growth arenas, not just a market for products and services. The size and diversity of Saudi projects gives French companies the opportunity to participate in different stages of the project cycle. From design and engineering to operation, localization and knowledge transfer.
The numbers show the breadth of the economic base of the relationship. The volume of trade exchange between the two countries reached about 11.79 billion dollars (44.2 billion riyals) in 2025, while the balance of direct French investments in Saudi Arabia increased to about 18.52 billion dollars (69.45 billion riyals) in 2024, compared to about 7.49 billion dollars (28.09 billion riyals) in 2015, according to data contained in recent studies on economic relations between the two countries.
Within one decade, the total Saudi-French trade amounted to about $93.04 billion (348.9 billion riyals), an indication that the economic relationship has become more established than the product of a single deal or project.
Energy...the relationship that changes without interruption
For many years, energy has been one of the most solid bridges in relationships. However, the nature of this cooperation is changing as the energy sector itself transforms; Among the major partnerships in refining and petrochemicals, most notably SATORP between Saudi Aramco and Total Energies, the cooperation agenda is moving towards broader areas that include renewable energy, hydrogen, energy storage, smart grids, carbon capture, use and storage, in addition to vital minerals.
This transformation coincides with Riyadh's endeavor to build a more diversified energy system, and with Paris's desire to expand the presence of its companies in industrial transformation and low-emission energy projects.
Thus, energy in the Saudi-French relationship is no longer a separate issue, but rather has become part of the reformulation of the economy, supply chains, and technologies that will serve the two economies during the coming decades.
From supplier to partner
The same transformation applies to defense cooperation; The relationship, which was historically based on training, arming, and developing military capabilities, is gradually moving towards areas more related to localization, technology transfer, maintenance, training, and developing local capabilities.
The Kingdom’s move to localize a larger portion of its defense industries gives international partnerships a different meaning. What is required is no longer just obtaining a military system or platform, but rather building a sustainable local capability around it.
This opens the way for French companies to participate in a broader system that includes manufacturing, engineering services, training, research and development.
Paris is a European gateway... and Riyadh is a regional center of gravity
The economic agenda is not separated from the political context. Saudi Arabia has increasing political and economic weight in the Middle East and the Arab and Islamic worlds, while France enjoys permanent membership in the Security Council, an influential presence within the European Union, and the ability to move on regional issues.
Hence, coordination between Riyadh and Paris has gained importance beyond bilateral relations, especially in the files of regional security, the Palestinian issue, Lebanon, Syria, and navigation security.
In light of the disruption of trade and energy routes in the region, the importance of searching for more diverse and flexible paths for transporting energy and goods between the Middle East and Europe is also highlighted, a file in which the economic intersects with the strategic.
Al-Ula...the clearest face
If energy and defense reflect the strategic aspect of the relationship, AlUla offers a different and clearer model of a partnership formed around a long-term project.
French cooperation in AlUla was not limited to tourism; Rather, it extended to planning, engineering, archaeology, culture, arts, training, education and the environment, becoming one of the most prominent examples of the entry of French expertise into a Saudi project that goes beyond the idea of traditional investment.
Through this type of project, French expertise meets the Saudi transformation in the culture, entertainment and tourism sectors, which are sectors that have become an essential part of the Kingdom’s new economy.
A relationship that has a history... but its agenda is for the future
Saudi-French diplomatic relations go back to 1926, while France opened its diplomatic mission in Jeddah in 1932. However, King Faisal bin Abdulaziz’s stop in Paris in 1967 and his meeting with President Charles de Gaulle represented an important turning point in building a deeper political relationship.
Since that time, visits and agreements have continued, reaching a stage during which relations witnessed rapid expansion in conjunction with “Saudi Vision 2030.”
But the importance of Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s current visit lies in the fact that it comes after a long accumulation of agreements and understandings, and in the presence of a new institutional framework for the partnership.
Therefore, the primary task facing Riyadh and Paris today seems less related to proving the strength of the relationship, and more related to showing what this relationship is capable of producing.
The equation that is forming between the two countries is no longer: What is France selling to Saudi Arabia? What does Saudi Arabia buy from France? Rather, how can the two parties capitalize on the major transformations in their economies and their international position to build common interests that extend for years to come?
This is precisely what makes the state visit to Paris a stop in the relationship’s path, and not just a new stop in it.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Paris does not arrive in normal regional circumstances. The region is experiencing a phase in which wars and navigation security are redefining the concept of economic security, while European countries face increasing questions about the stability of energy supplies and the flexibility of trade routes. In this environment, the Saudi-French partnership acquires a dimension that goes beyond the boundaries of bilateral relations.
Riyadh and Paris look at the security of the region from two complementary angles: Saudi Arabia from its position in the heart of the energy and trade system in the Middle East, and France from its European and international position, which makes coordination between them particularly important when it comes to protecting supply lines and opening safer and more flexible alternatives.
The visit comes as the two countries move to consider diversifying energy transport routes and logistical services, including maritime routes, and regional projects related to railways and pipelines, in an attempt to build a network that does not depend on a single route in a region where geography has become an influential factor in the global economy.
Security is no longer just military
Recent years have shown that energy security does not start at a production facility, nor does it end at a receiving station in Europe. The sea lane, port, pipeline, electricity network, and storage centers have all become links in one concept of security, and from here Saudi and French interests intersect.
Saudi Arabia has a pivotal location between the Gulf and the Red Sea, while France has a military and naval presence in the region, in addition to its position within the European system.
This gives the two parties space to coordinate on navigation security, protection of trade routes, and development of infrastructure linking Asian and European markets.
Energy changes
The issue is not limited to oil; The Saudi-French relationship is moving towards hydrogen, renewable energy, electricity storage, smart grids, and carbon capture, reflecting the shift in the nature of the energy market itself.
Saudi Arabia has the advantage of resources, space, and investment potential, while France has an extensive industrial and technical base in energy, engineering, and transportation.
If the two parties succeed in integrating these advantages, cooperation can move from purchasing energy or developing a facility to building production, transportation, and technology systems.
Economics is at the heart of the calculations
These files come at a time when the volume of Saudi-French trade has risen to about $11.79 billion (44.2 billion riyals) in 2025, while the balance of French investments in the Kingdom has jumped in less than a decade from about $7.49 billion (28.1 billion riyals) to $18.53 billion (69.5 billion riyals).
But numbers, important as they are, do not alone reveal the direction of the future relationship. The biggest bet is to invest in the sectors that will lead the economy over the next decade: artificial intelligence, advanced industries, health, tourism, transportation, logistics, and new energy.
Here, “Saudi Vision 2030” meets “France 2030” in the search for an economy more dependent on technology and innovation.
A partnership that goes beyond bilateral
Paris also holds political value for Riyadh. France is not only a European country with an advanced economy, but it is a permanent member of the Security Council and a power with a historical presence in the Middle East. On the other hand, Paris sees Saudi Arabia as a party whose role cannot be ignored in any broad regional arrangements.
The scope of consultation between the two countries is expanding to include the Palestinian issue, Lebanon, Syria, and Red Sea security, in addition to broader regional developments.
Therefore, the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council, which holds its first meeting during the visit, comes at an appropriate time to transform this communication into a more regular mechanism, and to link economic files with political and strategic ones.
From a map of ports to a map of interests
What Riyadh and Paris are discussing in the next stage is not only related to a new energy corridor, or a new transportation project; In essence, it is an attempt to build a network of interests capable of withstanding crises.
The more energy sources and methods of transport are diversified, the more trade paths become more numerous, and the more technologies and industries become localized, the less vulnerable countries become to sudden shocks.
Hence, the Saudi visit to Paris can be read as part of a broader discussion about the shape of the region and the relationship between the Gulf and Europe in the coming years.
Riyadh wants to be a global economic and logistical center, and Paris wants to maintain an influential European presence in a region that is reshaping its balance, and it is precisely in this area that the interests of the two countries converge.
