The relationship between Saudi Arabia and France is gaining special importance, in light of the accelerating international and regional changes that require an exchange of views and coordination of positions between the Kingdom and friendly countries, in which France occupies a distinguished position.

The policy of the two friendly countries, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and President Emmanuel Macron, aims to contribute to achieving security, stability and peace in the world in general and in the region in particular.

On every occasion, both countries express their complete satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations in various political, economic, cultural, and defense fields, and with the convergence of their views on many common issues. Security and military cooperation is also a key area of ​​focus

Security and military cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France is based on close communication between the two countries in the areas of training and armament to enhance the Kingdom's internal security, its defense of its holy sites and territories, and its commitment to justice, peace, and human rights in the world. The exchange of visits between military and security officials from both countries highlights the convergence of political views and strengthens security and military cooperation. This cooperation includes security training and the arming of the Saudi Arabian land, naval, and air forces. In 1429 AH (2008/2009 CE), the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic signed a security agreement in the field of security and defense forces. [Saudi-French Culture]

On the first of Sha’ban 1431 AH, corresponding to July 13, 2010 AD, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his French counterpart, Bernard Kouchner, inaugurated the exhibition “Masterpieces of the Kingdom’s Antiquities” at the Louvre Museum, which lasted for two months. In a speech at the time, Prince Saud Al-Faisal expressed his pleasure at launching the Saudi exhibition “Masterpieces of the Kingdom’s Antiquities Through the Ages” at the Louvre Museum with the French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner.

On 26 Jumada al-Ula 1433 AH, corresponding to April 18, 2012, the Saudi Cultural Days were held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. These events showcased the history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since its unification by the founding King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, and the cultural and scientific renaissance that has developed in the Kingdom to its current state. [Exchange and trade partnerships were also discussed.]

Saudi Arabia is an important partner for France as a global petrochemical powerhouse, and France is also a strong partner for Saudi Arabia in terms of transportation and agricultural equipment and goods manufactured in France. Saudi investment in France has increased fivefold over the past decade, reaching $123 billion in 2019, equivalent to 15% of the Kingdom's GDP. Meanwhile, France accounts for only about 0.5% of Saudi investments worldwide, equivalent to €427 million (SAR 1.9 billion), with the vast majority of these investments concentrated in the real estate sector, according to statistics from the Bank of France

The Saudi investment in French expertise is evident in the establishment of several joint ventures between Saudi and French companies, most notably Aramco and Total Energy, through the creation of the world’s largest refining and petrochemical platforms, such as SATORP. In early 2018, the production capacity of the SATORP platform was increased to 440,000 barrels of crude oil per day, bringing the annual production to about 22 million metric tons of refined petroleum products, including 700,000 metric tons of paraxylene, 150,000 metric tons of benzene, and 200,000 metric tons of high-purity propylene.

Partnerships between Saudi Arabia and France are numerous, particularly in logistics. For example, Kamco JV, a joint venture between RATP Dev and SAPTCO, is working together on Riyadh's planned metro, the world's largest. French companies have a long-standing presence in the transportation, aviation, energy, renewable energy, water, waste management, oil, and construction sectors. France is actively engaging with the Kingdom in all emerging sectors related to Saudi economic diversification, including the digital economy, artificial intelligence, culture, hospitality, agricultural technology, biotechnology, and healthcare. A strong economic ally

In the French Investment Program 2030, announced by the French President on October 12, 2021, which presented a €30 billion investment plan over five years for strategic sectors, Saudi Arabia is considered a true partner in achieving its goals. This is due to the similarities between the Kingdom's 2030 and France's 2030. The French view the Kingdom's Vision 2030 as having created a strong economic and trade ally for France in the fields of tourism, culture, entertainment, sports, the digital economy, and the environment. French companies are working on the development of the Al-Ula region, with France playing a leading role in Al-Ula projects thanks to the cooperation between the Royal Commission for Al-Ula and the French agency AFALULA. French companies were working on more than 78 projects in Al-Ula between 2019 and 2020, thanks to an agreement signed between the two countries.