An investment base worth €16.3 billion, equivalent to approximately $19 billion (SAR71.5 billion), is serving as a new starting point for Monday’s French-Saudi Roundtable in Paris, where participants are exploring ways to expand economic cooperation into the industries of the future. This foundation comes at a time when Saudi-French economic relations are broadening beyond traditional investments into sectors more closely aligned with economic transformation goals, particularly technology, artificial intelligence, energy, advanced manufacturing, and infrastructure. Against this backdrop, both countries have an opportunity to leverage existing investments as a platform for new deals and projects that will strengthen the presence of French companies in Saudi Arabia while simultaneously creating opportunities for Saudi capital to expand into promising sectors in France and across Europe. French investment in the Kingdom is increasingly targeting new strategic sectors, with French companies entering fields such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, culture and creative industries, and mining. This expansion builds on a long-established French presence in Saudi Arabia’s energy and industrial sectors, where manufacturing accounts for roughly 60 percent of French foreign direct investment. A Trillion-Euro Economy Saudi Arabia combines policy clarity, a stable economic environment, and strong economic fundamentals with a large and rapidly growing market. It is the region’s largest economy, with a GDP of around €1.1 trillion, and is developing new industries as part of its national economic diversification program under Vision 2030. Its expanding industrial base and growing domestic demand provide significant opportunities for French investors to strengthen their presence in sectors where they already have an established foothold while also entering fast-growing new industries. French companies continue to deepen their involvement in long-standing sectors ranging from energy and industry to transport, construction, and engineering, while simultaneously moving into emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, culture, and mining as the Saudi economy accelerates its growth. One of the most significant recent milestones in bilateral relations was the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at the end of 2024, opening broader avenues for cooperation in new sectors. Bilateral trade reached approximately €10.1 billion in 2025, up 7.2 percent from the previous year. French President Emmanuel Macron and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attend the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, August 23, 2026. Bandar Algaloud/Courtesy of Saudi Royal Court/Handout via REUTERS Foreign Direct Investment France ranks as the fourth-largest source of foreign direct investment in Saudi Arabia, with an investment valued at approximately €16.3 billion in 2024. French businesses hold 651 investment licenses across 18 sectors in the Kingdom. Manufacturing represents around 60 percent of French FDI, highlighting the industrial strength of the relationship. French companies operating in Saudi Arabia include major investors such as TotalEnergies, Sanofi, Veolia, Suez, Accor, and Schneider Electric, among others. Growing Saudi Presence in France Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) invested approximately €7.36 billion in France between 2017 and 2024, supporting nearly 29,000 jobs. In addition, a financing memorandum of understanding between the Saudi sovereign fund and Bpifrance, worth around €8.56 billion, provides a framework for expanded investment cooperation. The partnership is also taking on a new dimension, as Qiddiya Investment Company and the French government explore a cooperation framework to develop a global destination that combines entertainment, sports, and culture in France. The initiative would extend Saudi expertise in destination development internationally and reflects the increasingly reciprocal nature of the partnership. French firms maintain established positions in energy, industry, transport, and hospitality, while simultaneously expanding into new sectors as Saudi Arabia’s economy evolves. New Agreements Expected New agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to reinforce the French presence in sectors where French companies already enjoy a strong foothold. In energy, companies such as TotalEnergies, EDF, SLB, and Schneider Electric have significant operations in the Kingdom across oil and gas, power generation, and energy infrastructure. French firms also play major roles in water and environmental services, transport and logistics, construction and consulting, hospitality, and healthcare. Saudi Arabia offers a stable regulatory, economic, and financial environment that supports major capital commitments. Clear development strategies provide investors with greater visibility regarding the economy’s future direction, while strong fundamentals support long-term implementation. Meanwhile, Vision 2030 firmly positions economic diversification as a long-term national priority. The National Investment Strategy seeks to stimulate investment, while sector-specific strategies create opportunities throughout value chains. Ongoing regulatory reforms continue to open new opportunities and improve the investment climate. Updated investment laws provide equal treatment for investors and strengthen investor protections, including safeguards against expropriation and clear mechanisms for the repatriation of funds. Creditworthiness and Economic Stability Saudi Arabia holds an A+ sovereign credit rating with a stable outlook, reaffirmed by S&P Global Ratings in March. The Kingdom’s total reserve assets reached approximately €421.5 billion in June 2026. Over several decades, Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in infrastructure and operational capabilities that support sustained economic and commercial activity. The International Monetary Fund has cited low government debt, substantial reserves, and the size of the sovereign wealth fund as key strengths, while identifying the fixed exchange-rate regime as a reliable anchor of monetary stability. Opportunities are no longer limited to individual projects. Saudi Arabia is expanding integrated economic sectors, generating growing demand across value chains, and building the infrastructure, financing systems, and operating environment companies need to grow. Investment opportunities now span more than 15 sectors, many of which already feature strong French participation. The Saudi Industrial Development Fund provides financing of up to 75 percent of eligible project costs, alongside industrial incentives of up to 35 percent. Special Economic Zones offer targeted incentives in strategic industries, while the Regional Headquarters Program provides companies with a platform for regional expansion. Artificial Intelligence Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and technology through substantial investments in digital infrastructure. The Kingdom ranked first globally in the 2025 ICT Development Index issued by the International Telecommunication Union. The ICT market grew by 89 percent compared with 2017, while the digital economy accounted for approximately 16 percent of GDP in 2024. Saudi Arabia aims to develop 3 gigawatts of AI infrastructure capacity by 2030. Data center capacity has reached 440 megawatts, nearly six times the 2017 baseline, supported by investments exceeding €3.85 billion. Announced AI partnerships exceed €19.7 billion in value. Cloud regions operated by Oracle and Google Cloud are already operational, while cloud regions developed by AWS and Microsoft are expected to become operational during 2026. Energy The energy sector remains one of the most important pillars of French investment in the Kingdom and offers significant growth prospects. French companies are involved in energy projects in Saudi Arabia worth more than €16.3 billion, while consortia led by French firms participate in solar projects with a combined capacity of 11 gigawatts. Opportunities span renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen, and grid infrastructure. In tourism, French companies enjoy a strong presence in a rapidly expanding market. Saudi Arabia recorded approximately 123 million visits in 2025, generating nearly €69.3 billion in tourism spending. The Kingdom aims to attract 150 million visits annually by 2030. A Platform for Regional Growth More than 750 companies have established regional headquarters in Riyadh under Saudi Arabia’s Regional Headquarters Program, including 39 French companies operating across eight sectors. The program offers qualifying companies a 30-year exemption from corporate income tax and withholding tax, giving French firms with extensive operations in the Kingdom a strategic base from which to manage and expand their activities across the region.
