Saudi Arabia, France strengthen private sector economic partnership
Bilateral trade reached $12 billion in 2025 as both countries seek to expand investment and business cooperation under Vision 2030
PARIS, France (MNTV) – Saudi Arabia and France are seeking to deepen their economic partnership by expanding private sector cooperation, with bilateral trade reaching $12 billion in 2025 and both countries exploring new investment opportunities across key sectors.
Speaking during the Vision Golfe forum in Paris, Federation of Saudi Chambers Secretary-General Sultan Al-Musallam said growing economic ties reflect the strong alignment between France’s expertise in innovation, technology and development and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 economic transformation strategy.
Al-Musallam said trade between the two countries increased by 7.8% compared with the previous year, reaching $12 billion in 2025. French investment in Saudi Arabia has also expanded significantly over the past five years, rising from 7 billion Saudi riyals to 19 billion riyals (about $5.1 billion).
Around 500 French companies currently operate in Saudi Arabia, including 30 that have established their regional headquarters in Riyadh, with officials expecting that number to continue increasing.
He identified sectors such as tourism, culture, the meetings and events industry, and the creative economy as offering significant opportunities for future collaboration.
Major international events planned in Saudi Arabia, including Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup, are also expected to generate additional business opportunities for French companies.
Al-Musallam pointed to French hospitality group Accor as an example of successful cooperation, citing its expanding operations in the Kingdom and efforts to recruit Saudi professionals.
He also emphasized the importance of cultural cooperation in strengthening long-term economic relations, highlighting initiatives such as AlUla’s partnership with France and the international recognition of Saudi heritage sites through UNESCO.
According to Al-Musallam, stronger people-to-people exchanges are helping build trust between businesses, noting that approximately 16,000 French nationals currently live and work in Saudi Arabia.
On the sidelines of the Vision Golfe forum, the Saudi delegation met representatives from France’s business federation MEDEF, chambers of commerce and private sector companies to discuss ways to remove obstacles to trade and investment and encourage greater commercial cooperation.
Al-Musallam said the Federation of Saudi Chambers’ new 2026-2030 strategy places the private sector at the center of Saudi Arabia’s next phase of economic transformation.
He noted that private sector activity currently contributes about 52% of the Kingdom’s gross domestic product, with the government aiming to increase that figure to 65% by 2030.
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