Paris, August 24, 2026 — Saudi Arabia and France have taken another important step toward strengthening their economic and investment partnership with the French-Saudi Investment Roundtable held in Paris in the presence of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment, the roundtable brought together senior government officials, business leaders and CEOs from major companies in both countries. The discussions focused on expanding investment opportunities and transforming economic cooperation into long-term partnerships and projects. (UQN)
Stronger Economic and Investment Ties
The meeting comes as economic relations between Saudi Arabia and France continue to grow. Saudi Investment Minister Fahad Al-Saif said French foreign direct investment stock in Saudi Arabia reached SR63.9 billion (€16.3 billion) in 2024, more than double its level in 2021, making France the Kingdom’s fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment. (UQN)
French companies currently hold more than 650 investment licenses across 18 sectors in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating the expanding role of French businesses in the Kingdom’s economic transformation. (UQN)
Key Sectors Discussed
The roundtable highlighted several areas with significant potential for future cooperation, including:
- Energy and renewable energy
- Financial services
- Artificial intelligence
- Digital infrastructure
- Advanced manufacturing
- Transportation and logistics
- Tourism
- Gaming and esports
- Technology and innovation
Business leaders also discussed ways to convert industrial partnerships into executable projects and strengthen cooperation in transportation, logistics and digital transformation. (UQN)
Vision 2030 and French Expertise
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 continues to create opportunities for international investors as the Kingdom diversifies its economy beyond oil.
France brings significant expertise in technology, industry, finance and innovation, while Saudi Arabia offers a rapidly developing market and major investment opportunities. The combination of these strengths is creating new possibilities for joint ventures, technology transfer, manufacturing and long-term investment.
New Agreements and Business Opportunities
The investment meeting also coincided with several major commercial developments. Saudi Aramco announced agreements and a memorandum of understanding with French companies with a potential combined value of more than $3.7 billion, covering areas including industrial technology, drilling equipment, oil-country tubular goods and artificial intelligence. (Saudi Gazette)
The broader Saudi-French partnership is also expanding into entertainment and tourism. France announced plans involving a €6 billion Saudi-backed theme park development near Paris, expected to create approximately 22,000 jobs. (Reuters)
A Partnership Focused on the Future
The French-Saudi Investment Roundtable reflects the growing ambition of both countries to move beyond traditional economic cooperation toward deeper investment, innovation and strategic partnerships.
With Saudi Arabia continuing its Vision 2030 transformation and France seeking to expand cooperation with one of the Middle East’s largest economies, the relationship between Riyadh and Paris is entering a new phase focused on investment, technology, industrial cooperation and sustainable economic growth.
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