Paris will once again become the centre of France-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) dialogue as it hosts the third edition of Vision Golfe on 17–18 June 2025.
Held under the patronage of French President Emmanuel Macron, Vision Golfe 2025 will convene high-ranking ministers, senior business leaders, and policy-makers to strengthen economic, technological, and investment ties between France and the Gulf countries. Organised by Business France, this flagship event underscores France’s ambition to deepen bilateral and regional cooperation with the GCC through pragmatic partnerships and sustainable growth.
With the theme “From Bold Visions to Concrete Impact: A New Era of Cooperation,” Vision Golfe 2025 will focus on translating strategic ambitions into tangible, collaborative projects.
Over two days, the forum will cover ten strategic areas of France-GCC collaboration, reflecting the breadth of opportunities across sectors:
- Energy Transition – accelerating the shift to clean energy and sustainable practices
- AI and Innovation – fostering cutting-edge technology partnerships
- Healthcare – enhancing medical cooperation and healthtech solutions
- Education and Talent – developing skills and knowledge exchange programs
- Agri-Food and Food Security – ensuring sustainable food supply and agro-tech innovation
- Smart Infrastructure and Construction – building resilient cities and smart infrastructure
- Luxury and Retail – expanding high-end markets and consumer experiences
- Sports and Tourism – leveraging events and tourism for economic growth
- Mobility and Transport – improving connectivity via land, air, and sea
- Investment Climate & Access – facilitating market access and a favorable investment environment
High-level sessions will include “Blueprints for 2030,” a ministerial dialogue focused on long-term policy and economic planning, and “Innovating for Sustainability,” a panel exploring cross-sector approaches to water, waste, and energy management. These sessions aim to convert shared priorities into actionable frameworks, backed by public-private partnerships and cross-border initiatives.
Vision Golfe – a results-driven platform
Vision Golfe 2025 builds on the momentum of its 2024 edition, which saw over 1,200 participants, including 500 from GCC countries. That edition delivered concrete results: a strategic agreement between Saudi Ports Authority (MAWANI) and the Grand Port of Marseille Fos to boost maritime trade; a business partnership between Export Bahrain and the French Chamber of Commerce; and the launch of the “France Lab” at Abu Dhabi’s Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), underscoring the forum’s focus on innovation.
The 2025 edition will once again be marked by high-level inaugurations and exclusive participation from senior officials and industry figures, many of whom rarely speak at public forums. Their presence is expected to yield direct dialogue and practical outcomes, reinforcing Vision Golfe’s reputation as a results-driven platform.
Vision Golfe also serves a broader strategic function—as a gateway for GCC investors to access European markets via France. In 2024, France retained its position as Europe’s top destination for foreign direct investment. At the forum, Gulf sovereign wealth funds and private investors will have the opportunity to explore partnerships with French and European enterprises across sectors such as advanced manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and technology. For French stakeholders, it’s an opportunity to engage with Gulf partners committed to global investment diversification.
Trade flows between France and the GCC have continued to expand. In 2024, France-UAE bilateral trade reached €8.5 billion, a 14.9% increase year-over-year. France’s total trade with GCC countries reached €20.9 billion, including €7.6 billion with Saudi Arabia, €2.6 billion with Kuwait, €1.1 billion with Qatar, €0.7 billion with Oman, and €0.4 billion with Bahrain, according to data from French customs authorities.
These trade figures reflect a dynamic and maturing relationship underpinned by three core pillars: industrial collaboration in sectors such as aerospace and energy; robust cultural and academic exchange; and strategic investment fostering economic diversification and job creation across both regions.
Vision Golfe 2025 is positioned not just as a policy dialogue, but as a business and investment accelerator aligned with the economic transformations underway in the GCC and Europe. The forum will offer attendees a rare opportunity to hear directly from key government and private sector leaders, and to shape the future of France-Gulf relations through concrete, collaborative initiatives.
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