MBS signs health, transport and energy deals with Macron. The two-day visit began on Sunday evening during the closing ceremony of the Esports World Cup in Paris.
Agreements at the Elysée
On Monday, the Crown Prince and the French President met at the Elysée to sign agreements on health, transport and energy. Discussions also covered alternative energy routes that avoid the Strait of Hormuz, capacity upgrades and port networks. France is a major buyer of Saudi oil and mineral products.
Dragon Ball Project
An unprecedented project could materialise: a theme park inspired by the manga series "Dragon Ball," financed by a Saudi investment fund. Valérie Pecresse, President of the Île-de-France Regional Council, said the region has been working on the project for 18 months and that the signature could take place today at the Elysée. She compared the scale of the project to Disneyland.
Security and Energy
Beyond economic agreements, the two leaders discussed regional security, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Syria and Lebanon, and the war in Iran. They also touched on global events Saudi Arabia will host, notably Expo 2030 focused on sustainability and urban innovation, and the 2034 football World Cup.
Bilateral Trade
In 2024, trade between France and Saudi Arabia balanced out: 4.5 billion dollars of goods exported by France to Saudi Arabia and 4.6 billion dollars imported. Refined petroleum accounts for 72 % of Saudi exports to France, while French imports include aircraft, helicopters, gas turbines, pharmaceuticals and perfume.
Geopolitical Context
This visit marks the third time MBS has travelled to France, after trips in 2022 and 2023. In December 2024, Macron visited Riyadh, where the Saudi-French Strategic Partnership Council was founded. The prince also made his first international trip since signing the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement, a mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan.
Concrete Details
Currently, Brent prices sit around 93 dollars per barrel, after a spike that reached 119 dollars at the start of the war in Iran. Dialogue between MBS and Macron continues on security, energy and trade, with the potential signing of a major Dragon Ball agreement at the end of the visit.
