What's happened
Macron has hosted Mohammed bin Salman at the Esports World Cup closing ceremony in Paris, amid talks on a Saudi-French strategic partnership and upcoming deals on health, transport and energy. The visit underscores deepening ties between Paris and Riyadh as both nations prepare for major global events.
What's behind the headline?
Live, direct analysis
- Macron’s hosting of MBS at a high-profile Esports World Cup ceremony is a tangible symbol of sociotechnical diplomacy, blending soft power with strategic commerce.
- The discussions around a Saudi-funded theme park and the Saudi-French strategic partnership council signal a broader push to align on regional stability, energy, and transport systems.
- The timing matters: this visit comes as global events in 2030s loom large for both countries, likely to shape defense, energy, and cultural exchange agendas.
- Readers should watch for concrete outcomes: signings on health, transport and energy, and a formalization of joint initiatives that could extend beyond diplomacy into trade and tourism.
- The most important question: will rights and press freedoms feature in the agenda, given past scrutiny over Khashoggi’s killing? The response will define trust in the partnership.
How we got here
The visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Paris signals a continuing deepening of Franco-Saudi ties, with prior meetings dating back to 2021. The arrangement includes potential future projects such as a theme park and closer coordination on regional issues, set against the backdrop of Expo 2030, the 2034 World Cup, and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
Our analysis
The New Arab reports Macron hosting MBS at the Esports World Cup closing ceremony and notes the potential for a Dragons Ball theme park and a first Saudi-French strategic partnership council meeting. France 24 corroborates the Esports event and the bilateral discussions, including health, transport and energy accords, and references Khashoggi-related concerns. AFP material is cited for context on the Esports venue and broader geopolitical notes.
Go deeper
- What concrete agreements have been signed on health, transport and energy?
- How might the partnership council shape future Franco-Saudi relations?
- Will rights and human rights topics feature in the discussions?
More on these topics
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Expo 2030 - Event
Expo 2030 is a proposed world's fair to be held in 2030. Russia, South Korea, Italy, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia have submitted bids to hold the event.
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Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) - Country in the Middle East
Iran, also called Persia, and officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered to the northwest by Armenia and Azerbaijan, to the north by the Caspian Sea, to the northeast by Turkmenistan, to the east by Afghanistan a
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Jamal Khashoggi - Saudi Arabian author
Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi was a Saudi Arabian dissident, author, columnist for The Washington Post, and a general manager and editor-in-chief of Al-Arab News Channel who was assassinated at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 by agents of the Sa
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Riyadh - Capital of Saudi Arabia
Riyadh is the capital city and seat of government of the Riyadh Province and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula and the capital governorate of the Riyadh Province.
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France - Country in Europe
France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud - Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia
Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, colloquially known as MBS, is the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. He is currently serving as the country's deputy prime minister and is also Chairman of the Council for Economic and Development Affairs, Chairman of
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Saudi Arabia - Country in the Middle East
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a country in Western Asia constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Emmanuel Macron - President of France
Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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United Nations - Intergovernmental organization
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.
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United States - Country in North America
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
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Israel - Country in the Middle East
Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Esports World Cup - Series of esports tournaments
The Esports World Cup (EWC) is an annual international esports tournament series run by the Esports Foundation, a nonprofit organization. It is considered the largest professional esports event in the world in terms of total prize pool and number of game titles represented, with upwards of US$70 million awarded across individual tournament prize pools, rewards for teams that qualify to events, most valuable player awards, and the Club Championship. The 2025 edition featured competitions across more than 25 game titles and 28 club teams. According to the event's organizers, the 2025 event brought together more than 2,500 participants (players and team personnel) from 100 countries. The tournament takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July to August each year. The 2026 edition was moved to Paris, France. The Esports World Cup has its origins in Gamers Without Borders (GWB), a charity esports tournament series run by the Saudi Arabian Federation for Electronic and Intellectual Sport (SAFEIS, with esports later being spun off to become the Saudi Esports Federation) that originally supported charities who played a part in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, the SEF launched...