Crystal Magazine Jul 11, 2025
The Consulate General of France in Jeddah Celebrates Its National Day
The Consulate General of France in Jeddah held an official reception yesterday to mark the French National Day, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Jalawi, Governor of Jeddah, His Excellency Sheikh Saleh bin Ali Al-Turki, Mayor of Jeddah, and Mr. Farid Al-Shahri, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Makkah Region. The event also welcomed several consuls general, diplomatic figures, partners, and friends of the consulate.
Among the distinguished guests was Paralympic champion Abdulrahman Al-Qurashi, who proudly joined the celebration with his gold medal from the Paris Olympics.
Every year on July 14, France celebrates its National Day, commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789. It is also an opportunity for the French people to honor the values of the Republic—Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity—which the French Revolution represents.
On this occasion, the Consul General of France in Jeddah, Mr. Mohamed Nehad, delivered a speech welcoming the attendees and emphasizing the deep historical ties between France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dating back to 1839 when France established its first diplomatic mission in Jeddah. He noted the continuous development of the bilateral partnership across diverse fields such as energy, culture, tourism, and defense, highlighting that the visit of the French President to the Kingdom last December further strengthened this cooperation.
The Consul also shed light on consular and cultural efforts, including improved visa facilitation, strengthened human exchanges, and collaboration with major cultural events in Jeddah such as the Red Sea International Film Festival and artistic events like Fête de la Musique, aimed at supporting local art and creativity.
This celebration underscored the depth of French-Saudi relations and the mutual commitment to expanding cooperation in various sectors. It served as a valuable opportunity for dialogue and enhanced engagement between the two nations.
