The French embassy in Riyadh is a busy place, offering a wide range of services to both French citizens and those seeking to visit the country. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of the embassy, the current ambassador and their role, what services the embassy offers, and upcoming events. We’ll also provide some useful information on how to get in touch with the embassy and apply for a visa.
History of the French embassy in Riyadh
The French embassy in Riyadh was established in 1933, making it one of the oldest diplomatic missions in the city. The embassy is located on Al Olaya Street, in the heart of the Diplomatic Quarter.
The embassy is responsible for France’s diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. This includes promoting economic and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as providing consular assistance to French citizens in Saudi Arabia.
The embassy offers a wide range of services to both French citizens and those seeking to visit France. These include visa application assistance, cultural and educational programs, and economic and commercial services.
The current ambassador to Saudi Arabia is Mr. Jean-Claude Lacroix, who has been in office since September 2013. Ambassador Lacroix is a career diplomat with over 30 years of experience in the French Foreign Service.
The embassy will be hosting a meet and greet with Ambassador Lacroix on December 5th. This will be an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the work of the embassy and to ask any questions they may have about visiting or living in France.
The current ambassador and their role
The current ambassador to the French embassy in Riyadh is Mr. Jean-Claude Lacroix, who has been in office since September 2013. As ambassador, Mr. Lacroix is responsible for France’s diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Oman. In his role, Mr. Lacroix works to maintain and develop economic and cultural ties between the two countries. Additionally, he provides consular assistance to French citizens in Saudi Arabia.
Mr. Lacroix has a long history of working in diplomacy and international relations. Prior to his current role, he served as the Director General for Political Affairs and Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris. In this role, he was responsible for coordinating France’s foreign policy and advising the Minister of Foreign Affairs on political developments around the world. He also served as the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2007 to 2010. In this role, he led the French delegation during negotiations on a number of important issues, including climate change and international security.
Mr. Lacroix is a graduate of the École nationale d’administration (ENA), one of France’s most prestigious schools. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
What the embassy offers to citizens
The French embassy in Riyadh provides a range of services to both French and Saudi Arabian citizens. These services include consular assistance, cultural and educational programs, and economic and commercial services. The embassy is also responsible for promoting bilateral relations between France and Saudi Arabia.
Consular assistance is available to French citizens who need help with issues such as passports and visas, birth registration, marriage registration, death registration, and legal advice. The embassy can also provide assistance in cases of lost or stolen passports. The cultural and educational programs offered by the embassy include language classes, film screenings, art exhibitions, and concerts. These programs aim to promote cultural understanding between the people of France and Saudi Arabia. The economic and commercial services offered by the embassy include trade promotion, investment promotion, business counseling, market research, and business visas.
Upcoming events at the embassy
The embassy will be hosting a meet and greet with Ambassador Lacroix on December 5th. This is an opportunity for members of the public to meet the ambassador and learn more about his work promoting economic and cultural ties between France and Saudi Arabia. The meet and greet will be followed by a talk on doing business in France, which will be hosted by the Economic and Commercial Counselor at the embassy. This talk will provide an overview of the business environment in France, as well as information on how to set up a business there. Finally, the embassy will be hosting an information session on studying in France. This session will provide an overview of the education system in France, as well as information on scholarships and other financial assistance available to international students.
How to get in touch with the embassy
The French embassy in Riyadh is open from Sunday to Thursday, 9am to 12:30pm and 2pm to 5pm. The embassy is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. To make an appointment with the embassy, you can either call +966 11 488 3800 or email contact.riyadh-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr. You will need to provide your full name, date of birth, nationality, and reason for your appointment when making a request.
If you need assistance outside of office hours, you can call the embassy’s duty phone at +966 55 500 3313. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For consular emergencies, you can also call +966 505731111 and ask to be connected to the duty officer.
The French embassy in Riyadh can be contacted by a number of different methods:
Telephone: +966 11 488 3800 (for general enquiries) or +966 55 500 3313 (for consular emergencies)
Email: contact.riyadh-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr (for general enquiries) or asad-sg@diplomatie.gouv.fr (for consular emergencies)
Social media: The embassy has a Facebook page (@FranceinSaudiArabia), Twitter account (@FranceinKSA), and Instagram account (@franceinsaudiarabia).
Visa for France
Citizens of the European Union, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter France. Holders of a Laissez-Passer issued by the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or the World Health Organization (WHO) are also exempt from the visa requirement.
Citizens of the following countries do not require a visa for tourism or business stays of less than 90 days in any 180-day period:
Albania
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Bulgaria Burundi Cape Verde Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia El Salvador Georgia Grenada Guatemala Honduras Hong Kong SAR Iceland*1 Indonesia*2 Israel*3 Japan*4 Kazakhstan Kosovo*5 Liechtenstein Macao SAR Macedonia Malaysia Mexico Moldova Montenegro New Zealand Nicaragua North Macedonia Panama Paraguay Peru Russia Serbia Seychelles South Korea Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Ukraine Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam
citizens of these countries do not require a visa for tourism or business stays of less than 90 days in any 12-month period: Albania*, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Georgia*, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel*, Kosovo*, Macedonia*, Malaysia, Moldova*, Montenegro*, Mozambique*, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia *, Seychelles*, South Korea*, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine *, Uruguay *. U.S. nationals may stay for up to 90 days without a visa. British nationals may stay for up to six months. For information on other nationalities please contact your closest French embassy or consulate.
Nationals of all other countries require a short-stay visa (Type C).
