RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and France have maintained and strengthened a 100-year official relationship through partnerships in politics, economics, culture and defense, with numerous state visits exchanged.
Both countries focus heavily on diplomacy and foreign policy, sharing a mutual mission to seek security and regional stability.
Understanding the history of their ties means traveling back to 19th-century Jeddah, which marked the beginning of political relations between France and the Arabian Peninsula. These were anchored by the establishment of the Jeddah Consulate in 1839 as the region’s first French diplomatic post.
In 1926, full diplomatic relations officially began when France became one of the first countries to recognize the Kingdom of Hejaz and Najd before its unification in 1932. There were numerous exchange visits early on, when ways to advance cooperation on defense, energy, investment and culture were discussed.
Saudi-French relations entered a new phase following King Faisal bin Abdulaziz’s visit to France in 1967 and his meeting with then-French president, Charles de Gaulle. The landmark visit broadened bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors to advance the shared interests of both countries.
