EVENT REPORT — VISION GOLFE 2025
French Ministry of Economy and Finance ·
Paris, June 17 and 18, 2025
Event partner:
From Ambition to Execution
The Vision Golfe 2025 summit marked a decisive evolution in relations between France and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), shifting the dialogue from ambition to execution. Held in Paris on June 17 and 18, 2025, the summit brought together more than 1,200 participants, including ministers, senior officials, CEOs, investors, and innovators, to advance an agenda focused on implementation, co-investment, and long-term resilience.
What distinguished this edition of Vision Golfe was its maturity. The conversations were no longer focused solely on intentions, but on implementation: how capital is deployed, how regulatory frameworks are aligned, how innovation ecosystems are connected, and how talent is mobilized across borders. The tone was pragmatic, forward-looking, and grounded in a long-term partnership rather than a purely transactional exchange.
The debates extended far beyond economics. Health, education, innovation, sport, culture, and social impact all played a prominent role, reflecting a shared understanding that sustainable growth is inseparable from societal well-being. This holistic perspective has become a defining feature of Franco-Gulf cooperation and mirrors the broader evolution of global economic diplomacy.
Introductory Note
Introductory Note
From Dialogue to Action
Business collaboration remains one of the most effective bridges between regions, cultures, and systems. Vision Golfe 2025 demonstrated this clearly. Over two days in Paris, France and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council came together not only to exchange perspectives, but to translate ambition into action and move decisively from dialogue to the delivery of concrete results.
At Vision Golfe, trust is built, assumptions are challenged, and the pathways of the future are defined. In a period marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic transition, the ability of France and the Gulf states to come together in a constructive, frank, and ambitious way is both reassuring and strategically significant.
This report captures the substance of those conversations, the priorities articulated by leaders on both sides, and the frameworks that are emerging to guide the next phase of cooperation. Its purpose is not retrospective, but to serve as a reference point for what comes next.
Executive Summary
A Mature Strategic Partnership
Across ten thematic roundtables and multiple plenary sessions, the discussions revealed a mature partnership built on mutual trust and alignment of strategic priorities. Far from the traditional supplier-consumer dynamic, France and the GCC are increasingly operating as co-developers in the energy transition, digital infrastructure, health innovation, education, transport, agrifood, luxury, and sports tourism.
Implementation
The focus shifted from intentions to concrete mechanisms: how capital is mobilized, how policies are aligned, and how institutions collaborate on complex, multi-year projects.
Innovation
Artificial intelligence, sustainability, and human capital were framed as structural enablers of future growth, with the IMEC corridor as a key logistics lever.
Continuity
The partnerships forged in Paris are not isolated initiatives, but components of an evolving France-GCC strategic platform oriented toward sustainable prosperity.
The summit reaffirmed that structured, trust-based cooperation between France and the Gulf is a powerful mechanism for navigating uncertainty and generating lasting prosperity.
Introduction
Vision Golfe 2025 in Figures
The French Ministry of Economy and Finance in Paris hosted the third edition of the France-GCC Forum, organized under the patronage of President Emmanuel Macron. The two-day forum brought together more than 1,200 participants, including around 550 senior delegates from GCC countries, and was structured around the theme: “From bold visions to concrete impacts: a new era of cooperation”.
1.200+
Participants
Including 550 delegates from GCC countries
5
Ministers
From France, Qatar, the UAE, and other GCC countries
10
Thematic Roundtables
Plus 8 plenary sessions on key strategic areas
2.000+
B2B Meetings
Formal and informal exchanges, including a gala on the Seine
€21B
Bilateral Trade
France-GCC total in 2024, with 17,000 French exporters
6th
Consecutive Time
France reaffirms its position as the No. 1 FDI destination in Europe
Plenary Sessions
Presentations and Key Speakers
The plenary sessions of Vision Golfe 2025 brought together the highest representatives of the governments of France and the GCC, who set the strategic direction of the forum and laid the groundwork for the sector-specific discussions. Each intervention reflected a renewed commitment to advancing key shared challenges in a coordinated way.
H.E. Éric Lombard
Minister of Economy and Finance of France. He presented the strategic three-pillar framework for France-GCC cooperation: sustainability, diversification, and technological innovation.
H.E. Ahmed Al Sayed
Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Qatar. He highlighted that bilateral trade between Qatar and France reached €11 billion in five years, with hundreds of French companies active in the Qatari market.
H.E. Laurent Saint-Martin
Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade of France. He underscored the "decisive moment" in the bilateral partnership, presenting the forum as a showcase of mutual strengths.
H.E. Dr. Nouf Suliman Alnumair
Secretary General of the Ministerial Committee for Health in All Policies of Saudi Arabia. She presented the Kingdom's strategic vision in health and its partnership with France.
H.E. Shaima Saleh AlHusseini
Director General, Saudi Federation for Sport for All. She presented the social transformation driven by sport within Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
H.E. Didier Boulogne
Deputy Director General of Business France (Export Division). He highlighted the atmosphere of trust and mutual respect that defines the relationship between France and its GCC partners.
Executive Summary
Deepening Economic and Investment Ties
The Vision Golfe summit underscored the start of a new era in France-GCC economic relations, marked by deeper trade ties and growing mutual investment. In 2024, total trade between France and the Gulf reached €21 billion, a figure driven by a growing network of 17,000 active French exporters in GCC markets.
“This summit comes at a decisive moment that calls on us to remind the world of the strength of our existing ties and, above all, of what we still have to achieve together. Vision Golfe is a showcase of our respective strengths.” — Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade of France
Qatar and France
Bilateral trade between Qatar and France reached approximately €11 billion over five years, with hundreds of French companies active across multiple sectors, including TotalEnergies and Thales.
France as a Gateway to Europe
As the top European destination for foreign direct investment for the sixth consecutive year, France is positioned as a privileged platform for Gulf sovereign wealth funds to access the continental market, leveraging its stability and innovation ecosystem.
Executive Summary
From Transaction to Co-Creation
France reaffirmed itself as a strategic gateway for Gulf investment into Europe. In the roundtable discussions, experts urged sovereign wealth funds and companies from the GCC to use France as a springboard into continental markets, leveraging the country’s stability and innovation ecosystem. French speakers, for their part, expressed their willingness to support the Gulf’s ambitious economic diversification plans, pointing to renewable energy, sustainable cities, and advanced manufacturing as priority areas for co-investment.
“We are moving forward on the basis of trust and mutual respect with our GCC partners.” — Didier Boulogne, Deputy General Director of Business France
The economic narrative of Vision Golfe 2025 was one of shared growth: two regions redefining their relationship, moving from buyer-seller to co-creators of a sustainable future. Gulf countries are now recognized as producers and innovators, not only as consumers; and France, as an innovation hub and investor, is their natural partner on this path.
France-GCC relations are no longer purely transactional; they are evolving into a broader strategic alliance in which business ties strengthen diplomatic and cultural understanding.
Event Gallery
Forum Highlights
Event Gallery
Moments from the Sessions
Roundtable
Growth Routes: Transportation and Connectivity
The India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) as a link between Europe and the Gulf
Strengthening physical connectivity between the Gulf and Europe was one of the most prominent themes of the forum. In the roundtable «Growth Routes: Expanding Transport Connections between France and the GCC», the speakers examined ambitious plans to reshape global trade routes and improve regional mobility. The session was moderated by Oscar Wendel, President of Global Stratalogues.
The IMEC Vision
Gérard Mestrallet, French Presidential Envoy for IMEC, described the corridor as «not only a trade route, but a strategy for growth, peace, and resilience». Backed by India, the GCC states, the EU, and the U.S. in 2023, the corridor integrates maritime, rail, road, and digital infrastructure, reducing dependence on volatile chokepoints.
Smart Last-Mile Logistics
Abdulla Al Ashram emphasized the importance of customer experience in the era of e-commerce: «You can have world-class ports, but if you do not solve the last mile, the experience fails.» Cédric Virciglio added that ports must operate as integrated digital platforms to optimize the entire supply chain.
Technological Innovation: Hamed Mehdipoor (Ankaa, Oman) presented IoT sensor solutions, AI-powered supply chain management, and blockchain customs clearance to transform traditional highways into «sensing networks» capable of tracking carbon footprint and rerouting shipments in real time.
Gallery
Gallery · Innovation and Talent
Innovation in Action
Health and Wellbeing
Health as a Shared Strategic Priority
“Demand is accelerating, driven by population aging, chronic diseases, and rising costs. By 2027, medical costs are expected to grow by between 7% and 8% annually.” — H.E. Dr. Nouf Alnumair, Secretary General of the Ministerial Committee on Health in All Policies in Saudi Arabia
As the world moves beyond the pandemic amid growing healthcare demand, public health and human development have become central pillars of Franco-Gulf cooperation. Both sides emphasized that health is not only a social imperative, but also a strategic and economic priority.
Saudi Arabia: A Vision for Health
The Kingdom sees health “as a value to protect and a foundation on which to build.” Its far-reaching reforms depend heavily on international partnerships, especially with France, recognized for its advanced medical systems and leadership in public health innovation.
Complementary Strengths
“France leads in public health innovation through research and digital solutions, while Saudi Arabia brings scale and an integrated ecosystem to drive reform,” explained Dr. Alnumair, highlighting the complementary nature of both contributions.
Health and Well-being
Building the Healthcare Ecosystem of the Future
French participants welcomed this alignment. Healthcare companies, hospitals, biotech startups, and medtech firms presented solutions ranging from telemedicine platforms to AI-assisted diagnostics tailored to Middle Eastern markets. A key outcome was the proposal for the France-GCC HealthTech Network, which will connect entrepreneurs, researchers, and providers to pilot technologies such as remote monitoring and AI-assisted radiology.
Medical Tourism and Training
Partnerships were explored for specialized treatments and exchanges of medical professionals, along with joint research on specific regional health challenges.
Prevention and Quality of Life
Qatari delegates described collaborations with French consultants on diabetes prevention and mental health programs, adapted to the local and cultural context of the Gulf.
Health in All Policies
This holistic approach integrates health considerations across all sectors, from urban planning to education, reinforcing the economic argument: healthier populations are more productive.
At the close of the summit, healthcare was firmly positioned alongside trade and defense as a central pillar of the France-Gulf partnership, with both sides committed to aligning economic progress with human well-being.
Gallery · Health and Wellness
Health at the Center of Cooperation
Sport, Tourism and Social Impact
Beyond the Game: Sport, Tourism and Social Impact
“We are not only building a better Saudi Arabia, we are building a healthier and happier Saudi Arabia.” — Shaima Saleh AlHusseini, Director General, Saudi Sports for All Federation
One of the most dynamic panels at Vision Golfe 2025 focused on sport and tourism, sectors increasingly recognized as economic drivers and instruments of soft power. The session “Beyond the Game: Economic Impacts of Sport and Tourism” brought together leaders from sport, tourism, and event management, with Richard Barnes (Editor-in-Chief of SA-FE) as moderator.
Social Transformation through Sport
In six years, the physical activity rate in Saudi Arabia rose from 13% to 60%, with female participation increasing by more than 150%. Federation leadership is now more than 60% female.
Tourism and Major Events
Representatives from the UAE highlighted destinations such as Yas Island and the legacy of Expo Dubai, where sport and entertainment drive tourism year-round.
France’s Experience
French participants emphasized the country’s expertise in heritage preservation, hospitality, and event management, positioning it as a natural partner for Gulf ambitions in this field.
The “Third Dimension” of Diplomacy
Sport and tourism are described as a diplomatic dimension complementary to political and economic relations, fostering people-to-people connections and building familiarity and goodwill.
About Business France
Organized by Business France, the Vision Golfe Summit reflects the agency’s core mandate: to strengthen France’s international economic footprint through trade promotion, investment attraction, and the development of strategic partnerships. As France’s national agency supporting the internationalization of the French economy, Business France helps French companies export, attracts foreign direct investment to France, and coordinates public-private initiatives that strengthen bilateral business ecosystems.
Operating under the authority of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, the agency combines diplomatic outreach with sector expertise in industry, technology, sustainability, healthcare, infrastructure, and consumer markets. Through Vision Golfe, Business France positions itself not only as the event organizer, but as an architect of long-term France-GCC economic integration, bringing together sovereign actors, institutional investors, and business leaders to translate political alignment into tangible commercial outcomes.
© 2026
Vision Golfe 2025
From bold visions to concrete impact: a new era of cooperation.
French Ministry of Economy and Finance · Paris, June 17 and 18, 2025