Recent months’ developments have demonstrated the French and francophone expansion in Jeddah as well as the strengthening of the relations between France and Saudi Arabia. Registrations of French citizens in the Consulate General of France in Jeddah, which covers the western province of the Kingdom, have increased by 20% in one year, reaching 2,630, twice as much as their number four years ago.



These changes have prompted us to plan the relocation of the Jeddah’s International French School. The Minister of Education and the Makkah Governor launched last May the construction of a new bigger school in the newly built ?Prince Sultan Cultural Center?, located to north of the city. French speaking is expanding as well. Eight schools in Jeddah, offering francophone curricula, have decided, last June, to cooperate in view of offering common activities to their students. Moreover, Jeddah’s French Alliance provides French courses to an increasing number of students.



The numbers of Saudis attending or contributing to the cultural events organized by the Consulate General of France in Jeddah is expanding. Their number, which doubled in 2013, is also growing this year. This is for them an opportunity to discover and stay in contact with the French culture as well as to present their own art works to the Jeddah public.



Most of the artists and intellectuals in the city visit frequently our consulate, which has become a central platform for networking and creativity. The first “music festival”, namely, organized in January will remain an unforgettable event. This year we have granted, for the first time, the “The Consulate General of France in Djedda award for woman? to two distinguished Saudi ladies. Our website has seen a 24% increase of the number of Internauts in 2013.



On the economic side, the Jeddah Saudi-French Businessmen Association continuously add new members — Saudis as well as French, and deploys its activities, even outside Jeddah. The same applies to the dynamism of the Jeddah francophone doctors association. This year, the enthusiasm of Saudis for tourism in France has intensified. Our partner, Al-Etimad, has added new spacious and well-equipped offices to better serve the visa applicants.



Regarding the French organizers of Makkah pilgrimage, who have recently founded an association, they adopted in coordination with the Saudi authorities, a pilgrimage chart aiming at guiding their activities. I would like to express my gratitude to our numerous Saudi friends who dedicate themselves to the French pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah.



I would like to convey my thanks to the Kingdom’s authorities and the Saudi people for their unique welcome and their kindness towards me and towards all the French citizens, residents or visitors. I would like also to convey my thanks to the new secretary general and the officials of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where I am appointed as France’s special envoy. During this holy month of Ramadan I would like to reiterate our brotherly feelings to the numerous friends of France.



Dr. Louis Blin

Consul General of France to Saudi Arabia